Written answers

Thursday, 8 March 2007

Department of Finance

Decentralisation Programme

5:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the decentralisation of the Department of Education and Science to Mullingar; when construction of the new offices will commence; when this building will be occupied; if temporary offices will be sourced in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9253/07]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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An advertisement was placed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the national newspapers and in the Official Journal of the European Union seeking Expressions of Interest from experienced developers/contractors who wished to be considered in connection with the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Education & Science in Mullingar. This is part of a major PPP project which also involves the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment in Carlow and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Portlaoise. The project will be procured on a Design/Build/ Finance/Maintain basis and a single contract will be placed covering the three buildings. Financial advice is being provided to the OPW by the National Development Finance Agency.

Evaluation of the Expressions of Interest received is nearing completion and the OPW expects to be in a position to invite tenders in the very near future. When selected, it will be a matter for the preferred tenderer to secure a satisfactory planning permission in respect of each of the locations. On receipt of satisfactory planning permissions, the preferred tenderer will be instructed to prepare working drawings, specifications and Bills of Quantities with a view to a contract being placed and construction work commencing on the three sites. Construction is expected to be completed in 2009.

At present, there are no plans to provide temporary advance accommodation for the Department of Education & Science in Mullingar.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the decentralisation of the land registry to Roscommon; when construction of the new offices will commence; when this building will be occupied; if temporary offices will be sourced in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/07]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Expressions of Interest have been received by the Office of Public Works (OPW) from contractors who wish to be considered in connection with the provision of new permanent office accommodation for the Land Registry in Roscommon. These are being evaluated at present with a view to drawing up a short-list of suitable candidates from whom tenders will be invited on a design/build basis.

Tender documentation is also being finalised and tenders will be invited in the near future. Following receipt and assessment of the tenders, a Preferred Tenderer will be selected who will be instructed to apply for planning permission. On completion of the planning process, the OPW will request the Preferred Tenderer to submit working drawings and a Bill of Quantities with a view to a contract being placed and work commencing on site at the earliest possible date.

Temporary space has been sourced for the Land Registry in Roscommon with 33 staff currently in position. It is envisaged that this number will increase to 90 by the end of April 2007.

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