Written answers

Thursday, 22 February 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Prison Building Programme

6:00 pm

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 97: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has received the final tenders for the proposed PPP development at Thornton, County Dublin. [7015/07]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the person who is evaluating the final tenders for the proposed PPP development at Thornton, County Dublin. [7017/07]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 100: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be taken on which tender will be awarded the contract for the proposed PPP development at Thornton, County Dublin. [7018/07]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 101: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expected date for signing the contract for the proposed PPP development at Thornton, County Dublin. [7019/07]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps involved before the contract for the proposed PPP development at Thornton, County Dublin can be signed. [7020/07]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 to 102, inclusive, together.

Three tenderers have submitted tenders in respect of the Thornton Hall Prison Public Private Partnership Project. The tenders are being evaluated by a team comprising senior Irish Prison Service managers, prison governors, and representatives of the National Development Finance Agency. The evaluation team has the appropriate technical, financial and legal expertise available to it to assist in the evaluation of the tenders. It is intended to identify a preferred bidder by the end of February 2007. Experience with other PPPs suggests that a period of discussion and clarification with the preferred bidder may be required before a contract can be signed but in any event I would hope to see a contract signed within a matter of months.

As the tenders are still being evaluated, I am not in a position to outline all the steps that will be taken before signature of a contract. However I can say that the relevant officials are taking all the appropriate steps in accordance with EU Regulations, National Guidelines and Department of Finance PPP Guidelines in relation to the procurement of this project.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if one of the preferred partners has withdrawn from the tendering process in relation to the proposed PPP development at Thornton, County Dublin; and if so, the reason for same. [7016/07]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Four consortia were short-listed to receive the tender documentation and three of those have submitted tenders. It is in the nature of tender competitions that it is open to any bidder to withdraw from a competition without giving reasons. I am not in a position to give the reason why a particular consortium has decided not to proceed in this competition.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 103: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the provision of services such as water and sewerage are to be included as part of the PPP contract for the proposed development at Thornton, County Dublin. [7021/07]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The provision of services to the site forms part of the invitation to tender and it is, therefore, a matter for the successful bidder to provide services to the site. The local authority will take the services in charge once they have been completed.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 104: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the provision of a new road to facilitate the proposed development at Thornton, County Dublin is to be included as part of the PPP contract. [7022/07]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The site for the proposed prison at Thornton Hall is accessed by the R130 road which, prior to the purchase of the site, was assessed and found to be fully adequate to meet the requirements of the development. The tender documentation provides for some works on the existing road in the context of the provision of services to the site.

The question of providing a separate dedicated access has however been raised with me by local interests on a number of occasions and I have, in response, undertaken to afford full consideration to any such proposals received. No decision has been made in relation to this matter.

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