asked the Minister for Local Government if he would explain why it was not possible to give a decision on an application from Dublin County Council for the acceptance of a tender for ten houses at Naul, County Dublin until the contractor had to withdraw his tender in an area where it was extremely difficult to get contractors to tender.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Housing Scheme.
111.
I have no information that the contractor in this case had to withdraw his tender because of delay in giving a decision to Dublin County Council on their proposal for its acceptance. I understand that a proposal to accept the second lowest tender is to be submitted to me shortly by the council and I hope to be in a position to give them an early decision.
How can the Parliamentary Secretary give such a reply to that question remembering that I raised this in the Dáil when it was in his Department at least two or three months and drew his attention to the danger of this small contractor being unable to wait indefinitely? He had to decide where he was going next and there was danger of losing a contractor in an area in which it was very difficult to get a contractor. I was told by the Minister that he was not aware of any such danger and he kept fiddling around until he lost the contractor.
The best information we can get from the local authority is that the reason suggested by the Deputy for withdrawal from the contract is the correct one.
Is it not a fact that this was in the Minister's Department from July to November? Is that not reason enough for any small contractor to give up?
No, it is not.
Oh, come now. Where are we going?