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Water Meters Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (696)

Dara Calleary

Question:

696. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a panel of small and medium-sized enterprises sub-contractors is asked to tender for the provision of domestic water metering services before regional main contractors have been appointed; and if he will clarify the reason many SME sub-contractors are being precluded from tendering due to the stringent tendering criteria. [1832/13]

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Written answers

The Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme and for the collection of water charges from households.

The procurement process for the sub-contractor panel has been developed by my Department, in consultation with Bord Gáis Éireann, to ensure that SMEs have an opportunity to compete for contracts. The tender criteria have been developed to ensure that sub-contractors have the capacity to carry out the scale of work involved to the necessary high standard. The approach being taken for the sub-contractor panel is consistent with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on facilitating SME participation in public procurement (that Department’s Circular 10/10 refers).

The list of the pre-qualified sub-contractors will be provided to the regional main contractors (RMCs) who will be invited to tender for the RMC contracts. It is expected that the successful RMCs will be utilising the resources of the pre-qualified sub-contractors for the purpose of delivering the meter installation works.

As the procurement process is currently underway it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

Questions Nos. 697 to 699, inclusive, answered with Question No. 626.
Questions Nos. 700 to 709, inclusive, answered with Question No. 644.
Questions Nos. 710 and 711 answered with Question No. 638.
Question No. 712 answered with Question No. 644.
Question No. 713 answered with Question No. 638.
Question No. 714 answered with Question No. 688.
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