Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 2

Written Answers. - EU Food and Veterinary Office.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

97 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Government failed to inform the European Commission during the European Commission's site investigation feasibility study at Derrypatrick, Grange, County Meath, that the sewerage system was non-existent, that the Kiltale group water supply was inadequate and contaminated, and that the electricity and telecommunications facilities were also inadequate. [15818/01]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

98 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the public tender procedures in respect of the EU food and veterinary construction project contracts and sub-contracts; and the dates and details of the notices to tender which appeared in the Official Journal of the European Communities. [15788/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Question Nos. 97 and 98 together.

An advertisement for interested developers to tender for the construction and fitting out of a headquarters office for the European Union Food and Veterinary Office was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 7 August 1997, reference S152 volume 40.

Advertisements were also published in the national press and local press in County Meath at the same time. Eight developers were short-listed from 23 applicants and these were invited to tender on 16 March 1998. Michael McNamara and Company was the successful tenderer and a contract was subsequently placed with it. All sub-contracts were placed directly by the company with the contractors concerned.

The Office of Public Works was not informed of any site investigation feasibility study at Derrypatrick, Grange, County Meath, carried out by the European Commission. On selection of the site for the new headquarters for the EU Food and Veterinary Office the Office of Public Works carried out a full site appraisal in the normal way for such construction projects. This revealed the need for an on site tertiary sewage treatment system. The high quality sewerage works are nearing completion and the system will be commissioned later this year prior to the offices opening.

The site appraisal also noted that there was a need for water treatment to EU directive standards. The Kiltale group water scheme is upgrading its water supply to meet the EU drinking water directive which came into operation in Ireland in December 2000. The Office of Public Works has provided a stand alone water treatment system on site in Grange and can meet all EU water directive standards independently to any third party water supply, if so required.

Adequate electricity and telecommunication utilities have been provided for the project. A fibre-optic telecommunication cable was installed 20 months ago. This will enable the office to have the most modern telecommunication system, including video conferencing.

The European Commission authorities have been kept informed on all these matters during regular meetings and correspondence with Office of Public Works officials.