Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The original third level PPP programme, announced in 2008, included three projects in SETU Waterford; the Engineering and Science building, the Architecture building and the Business and Enterprise building. These projects were suspended in 2010, due to affordability issues, however costs of circa €3m had been incurred on enabling works at that time, such as clearance of the site, demolition works for site access, relocation of temporary prefabricated accommodation, car parking, alterations to pedestrians and vehicular access routes and the diversion and relocation of services such as electricity, gas, data and water mains. Many of these enabling works remain relevant to the new PPP project.

The commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2018-2027, within which SETU Waterford has a project in Bundle 2. As the Bundle 2 project is being procured as a bundle (together with four other new build projects across the regions), the costs are only available at a bundle level, rather than at a project specific level. To date, my Department has spent circa €4.659m on Bundle 2, on technical advisor fees, planning fees and design team fees.

Bundle 2 procurement timeline:

September 2020 – Publication of contract notice and commencement of procurement process

June 2021 – Prequalification process complete and tenderers shortlisted

August 2021 – Tender documents issued to shortlisted tenderers

December 2023 – Final tender requested