Written Answers. - Swimming Pool Projects.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
144
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the two tender proposals his Department's project team has received for the 50 metre swimming pool; the project team's findings and recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20054/99]
The Government, in line with the commitment given in the joint programme, An Action Plan for the Millennium, decided in November 1997 to initiate a tender procedure to invite proposals for a national 50 metre swimming pool. The tender procedure was conducted in accordance with EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, concerning the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts. A project team was established by my Department to assist with the preparation of invitation to tender documentation and to oversee the tendering process. This team comprised representatives of a number of Departments and other organisations.
The tender procedure notice for the project was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and in the Irish media in Janu ary 1998, and was open to both the public and private sectors. Developers were requested to come forward with proposals for the design, construction, financing and management of a 50 metre swimming pool, capable of meeting the training requirements of Ireland's high-performance swimmers for international competition. Such developers were required to demonstrate that they had the necessary financial status, technical knowledge and experience to undertake the development.
The Government agreed to provide capital assistance up to a maximum of £6 million, and annual operational assistance up to a maximum of £250,000, for a maximum period of 20 years, towards the cost of implementation of the successful tender. The deadline for submission of full tenders from qualified candidates was 27 November 1998, and three tender proposals were received on that date. Two tender proposals, one with a location in Dublin and the other in Limerick, were deemed by the project team, on the advice of independent professional consultants, to have met the qualification criteria and these proposals proceeded to the evaluation and assessment phase of the project. The third tender was disqualified on the basis of its ineligibility in terms of its compatibility with a fundamental element of the tender framework: the capital grant limit.
However, on 18 January 1999, the third tenderer applied for and was given leave by the High Court to seek to have its disqualification set aside and its tender considered. This case was heard in the High Court between 12 and 14 May last. In a reserved judgment delivered on 16 June, the High Court ruled in favour of my Department, and the disqualification decision stood.
Following a detailed assessment and evaluation of the remaining two tenders, which was carried out by a team of independent experts, a report recommending the University of Limerick project was submitted to the project team overseeing the process. The project team, having considered the report, endorsed the recommendation and, on 14 July, I notified the Government of the outcome of the process. A final contract, between my Department and the university, is under discussion at present and I expect that this will be ready for signature very shortly.
The University of Limerick proposal is based on receiving a capital grant of £5.95 million and an operational subsidy of £190,000 per annum for 20 years. The swimming pool will form part of the university's multi-purpose sports building project, which is currently under construction and is located close to the National Coaching and Training Centre. It is anticipated that the pool will be operational by September 2000.
