Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 225: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 27 May 2009, the status of the proposed biomass district heating scheme under the Dundalk 2020 project; the reason no preferred bidder was appointed; the reason no update has been sent to the final tenderers; the amount that has been spent on consultants and legal advisers by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on this project; the amount of a CONCERTO grant that was allocated to this project; if this grant has now been foregone or can be reallocated to another project in Ireland. [40411/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The final tender submissions in relation to the Dundalk biomass district heating scheme were received in late 2009. The principal reason for the delay in finalising the Competition is the necessity to ensure demonstrable value for money for the Contracting Authorities, the (HSE, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), and Louth VEC/Department of Education and Skills) in awarding any such contract. No decision has been made with respect to any of the Final Tenders. An update will be sent to the Tenderers before the end of November.

Approximately €90,000 has been spent since 2008 on legal advice and a similar amount on technical consultancy in providing support to the three Contracting Authorities and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. As a result of this work, model contracts and technical support have been developed to support any future district heating projects.

The amount of EU CONCERTO funding allocated to this project is dependent on the size of biomass installation, and is still available up to a potential maximum of €600,000. The funding would be allocated to the preferred bidder (Energy Supply Company - ESCO) on agreement between EU Commission and the ESCO. No funding for the district heating project has been spent to date. The CONCERTO fund is available for this project for 5 years (from 2007) and can be reallocated within the project but not to any other projects in Ireland.