Vol. 551 No. 2
363 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he will sanction the finance for the augmentation of the Purcellsinch sewerage treatment works, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10233/02]
This scheme has been approved to advance through planning in my Department's water services investment programme 2000-02, announced in July 2000. The submission of a preliminary report for the scheme by Kilkenny County Council is awaited by the Department.
364 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he will increase grant assistance for group sewerage schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10235/02]
In accordance with a recommendation of the national rural water monitoring committee, I recently approved a pilot programme to test a range of new, small- scale collection and treatment systems, based on design-build-operate, DBO, procurement by local authorities, to meet the wastewater collection and treatment needs of small rural communities. Subject to a satisfactory outcome to the pilot testing, the recommendation envisages a potential role for group sewerage schemes in the collection of domestic wastewater from households outside the immediate catchment of the new treatment systems. The confirmation of such a role for group sewerage schemes, and any review of the associated grants, must await the outcome of the pilot programme.
365 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the regulations regarding the appointment of contractors under the group water bundle system as operated in County Monaghan where tenders could only be accepted from contractors with £15 million per annum turnover, a three year track record and a substantial bond which meant that no Irish company could apply; if this is his Department's or an EU regulation; his views on whether, in view of other revelations regarding contracts in recent weeks, that these regulations were unfair to Irish contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10237/02]
Monaghan County Council was the contracting authority for the project referred to. In accordance with my Department's procurement policy for water services projects and the provisions of EU Directive 93/38/EEC, and amending Directive 98/4/EC-Annex XII-B-Restricted Procedure, the council invited pre-qualification submissions from contractors for the design, construction and operation, by way of single contract, of water treatment facilities for a number of group and public water supply schemes in the county.
As provided for under the directives, Monaghan County Council required applicant contractors to meet certain criteria with regard to financial and economic standing, technical knowledge and ability to undertake the contract, and to produce evidence of the availability of a performance bond in respect of both capital and operational elements of the contract. Having regard to the overall scope and value of the contract, which has a projected whole life cost in the region of €30 million, applicants were required to have realised a turnover of £15 million, €19.05 million, cumulatively over the previous three years, and installed, in at least five water treatment plants, mechanical and electrical processes to the value of not less than £300,000, €380,000, in each case.
Nine valid applications for pre-qualification were received by the council, five of which were shortlisted and invited to tender for the contract. Valid tenders were received from four companies, three of which were Irish based. The successful tenderer was Irish based.
