Vol. 534 No. 4
42 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if work has started on a bog road (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she is satisfied that the tender process for this road was carried out according to regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10775/01]
56 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she is satisfied that the necessary tenders were sought for a road (details supplied) in County Mayo in accordance with regulations set down by the Department of Finance; if she has investigated this matter thoroughly; and if the work on the road has been completed. [10774/01]
81 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will investigate the administration of a tender process for a road (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if the process was according to Department's guidelines. [10776/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 56 and 81 together.
I refer the Deputies to my reply to parliamentary Questions Nos. 191 and 192 of 4 April 2001 and to my reply to parliamentary question No. 254 of 10 April 2001 in which I indicated that my Department has, in recent years, adopted a new approach in relation to the funding of the improvement of bog roads under Scéim na mBóithre Áise.
I also outlined in those replies the maximum level of funding per mile that can be approved where the work is being carried out by way of FÁS community employment scheme and the maximum level of funding per mile which can be approved where the work is being carried out by a registered contractor. I also clearly stated in my replies that it is a matter for the local co-operative or committee in question to obtain tenders, if necessary, and to comply with all the other conditions of the scheme including the carrying out of the work.
In relation to the road referred to by the Deputies, I have already indicated in my reply to parliamentary Questions Nos. 191 and 192 that my Department was advised that only one registered contractor was available in the area to submit a tender. I should point out, however, although tenders are a matter for the local co-operative or committee in question and the Department has laid down the maximum level of funding per mile which can be approved when the work is being carried out by a registered contractor, that it is this level of funding rather than the tender/tenders received that dictates the level of grant which may be approved in any given case.
I understand that work on this road has recently commenced in order to facilitate access to the bogs during the turf cutting and harvesting season. As already indicated in a previous reply, a decision on this application will be made in the near future.
