Parliamentary Question: Prison Building Programme

22nd February 2007

 97. Mr. J. Higgins asked 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]

 99. Mr. J. Higgins  asked 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]

 100. Mr. J. Higgins asked 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]

 101. Mr. J. Higgins asked 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]

 102. Mr. J. Higgins asked 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]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): 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.