Vol. 494 No. 3
209 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance when he will announce details of infrastructural projects under the proposed public private partnerships; and if the Dublin public transport rail and underground project will be a top priority in these proposals. [18204/98]
A limited number of infrastructural projects is at present being reviewed in the context of the public private partnership approach. It will be recalled that the consultants' report on this matter in July 1998 recommended a pilot approach initially.
No specific decisions have been taken as yet in this regard, though it will be recalled that the new midlands prison project and the peat fired power station for which contracts have been awarded this year would both be described as PPP contracts.
In view of the complexity of the Dublin light rail project and the considerable range of possible PPP approaches to it, the Department of Public Enterprise decided to retain consultants to advise on the optimum approach aimed at securing best value for the State on a PPP basis. Tenders are presently being evaluated by the Departments of Public Enterprise and Finance with a view to the early engagement of consultants for this specific aspect of the matter.
