Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is reviewing the operation of public private partnership contracts in view of recent developments. [22281/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains committed to the use of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process as a viable procurement option for appropriate projects within the overall parameters set out for public investment in infrastructure and public services.

My Department has the same role in relation to PPP projects as it does in relation to capital investment projects generally, in terms of setting the overall capital investment framework and the basic principles to be observed for the appraisal, assessment, procurement and evaluation of projects. Individual Ministers and their agencies are responsible for the projects and programme in their areas, within that overall framework.

I understand that recent developments in respect of certain housing projects reflect wider housing market developments and do not have a bearing on the use of PPP procurement, generally. Of course, my Department reviews all of these matters on an ongoing basis. PPP procurement is one option to be used alongside the traditional approach for the delivery of public investment projects. In choosing to adopt the PPP approach for a particular project Departments and Agencies must assess, in conjunction with their advisors, including the National Development Finance Agency, as appropriate, the optimum model to use in the prevailing circumstances. There is a wide variety of possible PPP models provided for in legislation and elaborated on in central guidance issued by my Department. Within these models the form of the deal entered into would be specific to each project.