Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Mar 2000

Vol. 517 No. 2

Written Answers. - Public Private Partnerships.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

42 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance the number of public private partnerships proposed for County Kerry; the number of inquiries received from potential investors from the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9326/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

As you are aware I announced on 1 June 1999 a list of projects to pilot the PPP process in Ireland. No projects in the Kerry area were included in the first tranche of pilot projects then announced, or in the further pilot projects subsequently selected in the education and water services areas. At this time there are no other PPP proposals being considered for Kerry.

While my Department is responsible for driving the overall PPP process, it should be noted that the delivery of specific projects is a matter for the Departments and agencies responsible for the relevant investment programmes. The central PPP unit in my Department was set up to lead, drive and co-ordinate the PPP process across and in conjunction with the line Departments of Government. The Departments and authorities directly responsible for each programme area retain the responsibility of bringing forward specific projects, in co-operation with the central PPP unit in my Department.

Under the national development plan it is proposed to undertake an ambitious programme of PPP projects between 2000 and 2006, including £1.85 billion of PPP funding. This is a minimum target for PPPs and if further opportunities to avail of private investment can be identified which meet the key criteria of meeting national priorities and demonstrating long-term value for money, they will be pursued. Precise designation of projects or parts of projects for PPP purposes will be decided as the plan is implemented. The responsible agencies are already actively identifying possible PPP projects to follow the pilots already announced.

I understand that there are proposals from the Kerry area among the applications received from local authorities to the local government PPP fund, which was launched by my colleague the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to provide seed funding for feasibility studies of possible PPP projects in sectors outside the main programme areas. I understand that the submissions from local authorities are being considered at the moment in the Department of the Environment and Local Government.