Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 2

Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Bernard Allen

Question:

108 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 19 October 2000, he will say the type of cabling being used for the closed circuit television system; if fibre optic was specified in the tender documents; and, if so, the reason for the delay in relation to the underground ducting. [26219/00]

Bernard Allen

Question:

109 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of companies that tendered for the installation of close circuit television in the centre of Cork city; the basis on which the tender was awarded; and the cost of the successful tender. [26220/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.

Sixteen companies tendered for the supply, installation and commissioning of a Garda CCTV system in Cork city centre.

The tenders were evaluated by the Garda telecommunications section using the following criteria as specified in the request for tender document. These were as follows: price, the overall cost of provision of the system including all mandatory items; availability and cost of desirable options; future development potential of system; supplier background-experience and quality and cost of support offered.

The costs of carrying out civil works was not a criteria in the evaluation process as the associated costs were contingent on the availability of the ducts and the identification of each cable route by the successful tenderer.

Following the evaluation process, the successful tender recommended was that submitted by SKS Communications Limited. The cost quoted was IR£483,188, including VAT. My Department subsequently obtained the approval of the Department of Finance for the expenditure of this money on the Cork CCTV project and the approval of the Government contracts committee for the awarding of the contract to SKS Communications Limited. Approval for the provision of an additional amount of IR£100,000 for the civil works associated with this project, i.e., ducting, re-instatement of roads-footpaths and provision of ESB supplies, was also received from the Department of Finance at this time.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that fibre optic cabling was chosen as the transmission media for the Cork city centre CCTV system. The request for tender documents for the CCTV project requested a fibre optic transmission system installed in underground ducting to be provided by Cork Corporation. The completion of the project was contingent on the availability of ducts and the identification of each cable route by the successful tenderer. The option of using a microwave transmission medium was also specified in the request for tender document but most companies submitted tenders for the fibre optic option only.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that SKS Communications Limited discovered during the course of the installation of the CCTV system that major parts of the ducting were not in place and, that, in other cases ducts were blocked. A ducting survey was carried out by SKS Communications Limited and this survey showed that available ducting did not fully correspond with that which was previously understood to be available. Discussions then took place between representatives of the Garda authorities and Cork Corporation in an effort to have the necessary ducting installed.

I understand from the Garda authorities that the corporation is unable to undertake this work and, consequently, arrangements for the carrying out of the work will have to be made by the Garda authorities and my Department. In this regard, the Garda authorities have recently submitted a detailed proposal as to how best this work can be carried out and this proposal is currently receiving attention.

I can assure the Deputy that there has been no undue delay on the part of the Garda authorities or my Department in the carrying out of the Cork CCTV project and that I want to see the CCTV system installed and operational at the earliest possible date.