Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2019
173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if construction works on the new Forensic Science Ireland Laboratory at Backweston, County Kildare, have commenced; if not, when construction works will commence; and the budget allocated for same. [44995/19]
View answerThe Forensic Science Ireland Laboratory Project at the Backweston campus, the delivery of this project is managed by the Office of Public Works. A preferred Main Contractor has been identified. The reserved specialist tender submissions were received on 27th September 2019. Currently, these tender submissions are been assessed which is expected to be complete in early November 2019. As with the Main Contractor, a Letter of Intent has to be issued with a 14 calendar day standstill period from the date of this letter.
Please note that no contract will be awarded until that process is complete and the necessary pre-contract meeting takes place and required assurances are subsequently received. It is anticipated this process will be complete in Q4 2019. It is anticipated that construction will start by the end of Q4 2019 with a view that construction be complete in late 2021/early 2022.
