asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works have proceeded with the invitation to tender for the erection of the new Garda divisional headquarters in Waterford city; if not, why; when it is expected that work will commence on its erection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford City Garda Headquarters.
46.
In the confident expectation, based on the best information available at the time, that the bills of quantities would be completed by the first week in April, I said in the course of my reply to the Adjournment Debate on the 12th February last that tenders for the new station would be invited some time in April. To my disappointment and regret it has not been possible to do this. Due to the resignation of the architect in the Office of Public Works who had prepared the plans for the building, certain details could not be furnished to the quantity surveyor to enable him to complete the bills on schedule. The need to have the outstanding details assembled by another architect, who had not originally been concerned in the preparation of the plans, has had a retarding effect on the work, and in the event, it now seems probable that it will not be possible to have the tenders invited until about the end of next month. Everything possible is being and will be done to have this timetable improved upon.
The remaining Questions will appear on next week's Order Paper.