Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Public-Private Partnerships.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

275 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has authorised the participation by his Department or any relevant State body in any public-private partnership; the number, if any, of these projects under way; if there are any possible public-private partnerships under negotiation between his Department and private investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6714/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I am committed to public-private partnerships, PPP, as a means of providing for major infrastructural services in the years ahead. With this in mind, I have authorised my Department to identify potential PPP projects within my area of responsibility. The National Roads Authority, NRA, is similarly developing a PPP programme in relation to national road projects.

For the most part, partnerships are envisaged between the private sector and the implementing agencies concerned, local authorities and the NRA, rather than with the Department. Details of PPP projects which have been identified already are set out in the following table. The references to national road projects are taken from1998 Review and Programme for 1999 published by the NRA, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library; further details of these projects are available from the NRA.

My Department is not involved in actual negotiations with any private investors concerning particular public-private partnerships projects. However, a number of private investors have had discussions of a general nature with the Department on the principles of public-private partnerships.

Project.	Implementing Authority.	Type of PPPConcession – contract to operate service, DB – Design and Build, DBO – Design, Build and Operate, DBOF – Design, Build, Operate and Finance.	Comment.
Car Testing.	Department of the Environment and Local Government.	Concession.	Contract signed. Commence January.
Lee Tunnel	Cork Corporation.	DB.	NRA.
Ringsend Interim Sludge Treatment.	Dublin Corporation.	DBO.	Under Construction.
Osberstown Wastewater Treatment.	Kildare County Council.	DB.	Under Construction.
Waste Recovery Facility.	Cork Corporation and Cork County Council.	DBOF. In both these cases the negotiation of the financial arrangements is being dealt with by the implementing authorities in the context of proposals received.	Tenders under examination.
Ringsend Treatment Works.	Dublin Corporation.	DBO.	Tenders under examination.
Dublin Port Access Tunnel.	Dublin Corporation.	DB.	NRA.
N25 Kilmacthomas By-Pass.	Waterford County Council.	DB.	NRA.
N9 Moone-Timolin.	Kildare County Council.	DB.	NRA.
Ringsend Interim Sludge Disposal.	Dublin Corporation.	Service.	Contract advertised.
Cork Wastewater Treatment.	Cork Corporation.	DBO.	At planning stage.
Swords Wastewater Treatment.	Fingal County Council.	DB-DBO.	At planning stage.
M50 Second Westlink Bridge.	Fingal County Council.	DBOF2.	NRA.