asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether the Electricity Supply Board advertised for tender the site development work for the Great Island generating station, County Wexford; the number of firms that submitted tender for same; the name of the firm to whom the contract was allotted; and the amount of the contract.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Island (Wexford) Generating Station.
14.
I am informed by the ESB that in June, 1963 they invited tenders by public advertisement for the site development work for the Great Island generating station. All tenders received were considered on their merits and the contract was awarded to the Irish Engineering and Harbour Construction Company.
It would be contrary to established practice to disclose any information on the tenders received.
Was it the lowest one which was accepted?
All tenders received were considered on their merits.
Was the tender received the lowest? Surely that information should be available? If it was not the lowest it could be assumed that one lower was received from a competent contractor.
I am told that in practice it need not necessarily be the lowest tender which is accepted. All relevant factors are taken into account. In this particular case I do not know if the lowest tender was, in fact, accepted.