asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the date when tenders were accepted by the Offaly Board of Health for the erection of labourers' cottages at Clara, Edenderry and Portarlington; the date or dates when the tenders were sanctioned by his Department; the date or dates when the contractors commenced work, and the cause of any delay in commencing work in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of Labourers' Cottages in Offaly.
Tenders for the erection of labourers' cottages at Clara and Portarlington were accepted by the Offaly Board of Health on 13th December, 1938. On the 29th December, 1938, the board decided to readvertise both schemes and new tenders were accepted on 10th January 1939. At their meeting on the 9th instant the board were informed by the contractors for the Portarlington scheme that they were not prepared to carry out this contract and the board decided, subject to my sanction, to accept the next lowest tender.
A tender for the Edenderry cottages was accepted by the board of health on 23rd August, 1938. The contractor subsequently withdrew and a fresh tender was accepted on 27th September, 1938. This latter tender was cancelled by the board of health on 29th December, 1938, and another tender accepted on 10th January, 1939. The contractor was unable to obtain a guarantee bond for the contract and the board readvertised the work. A tender was provisionally accepted by the board on the 9th instant and is at present under consideration.
Sanction to the tender for the Clara cottages was given on 29th March. Delay has been occasioned in commencing the work on the scheme owing to difficulties which the contractors experienced in getting a bond from an insurance company. I am now informed that the work will begin to-day.