Defence Forces Property.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004

Tuesday, 19 October 2004

Ceisteanna (421)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

562 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if there is an annual contract for grass topping and maintenance on the lands at the Curragh, County Kildare, which are the property of his Department; if so, the way in which this is awarded; the cost of the contract for the years 1997 to 2004 inclusive; the candidates which obtained the contract for these years; the requirement for the contract; if the contract was advertised for 2004 and other years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25475/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

Contracts for environmental maintenance works on the Curragh are awarded by my Department on a periodic basis following a tender competition which is advertised in local County Kildare based newspapers, Leinster Leader, Kildare Nationalist and Kildare Times. A contract for weed-cutting on the Curragh is awarded every year following a restricted tender competition. My Department holds details of potential contractors in this regard — currently 13 — and the tender has not been advertised in recent years as the process did not lead to an increase in the number of tenderers. It is open to individuals to request inclusion on the list.

The contracts are required to enable my Department to meet its duty of care to protect the environmental heritage of the Curragh as well as to meet certain statutory obligations in the control of noxious weeds and, in all cases, the lowest tender has been accepted. The contract for environmental works is based on hourly rates for labour and equipment, while the weed-cutting contract is based on an all-in figure. Details of the contractors engaged during the period are as follows:

Year	Environmental Works	Weed-Cutting
2004	Mr. Richard Worrell, Ayr Hill, Stramillian, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare Mr. John Dallon, 40 St. John’s, Castledermot, Co. Kildare	Mr. John Egan, Inch House, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
2003	Mr. Richard Worrell, Ayr Hill, Stramillian, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare	Mr. Joseph Slattery, Kilbiller, Coolbawn, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
2002	Mr. Richard Worrell, Ayr Hill, Stramillian, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare	Leens Plant Hire Ltd., Raheenagh, Ballagh, Co. Limerick
2001	Mr. Richard Worrell, Ayr Hill, Stramillian, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare Mr. Peter Keatley, Newtown, Suncroft, Co. Kildare	Leens Plant Hire Ltd., Raheenagh, Ballagh, Co. Limerick
2000	Frank Pearson & Son, Ballinabarna, Skerries, Athy, Co. Kildare	Mr. Peter Keatley, Newtown, Suncroft, Co. Kildare
1999	Frank Pearson & Son, Ballinabarna, Skerries, Athy, Co. Kildare	Mr. Martin Cribbon, 6 St. Patricks Park, Rathangan, Co. Kildare
1998	Frank Pearson & Son, Ballinabarna, Skerries, Athy, Co. Kildare Thomas Logan & Sons, Naas Industrial Estate, Naas, Co. Kildare	Frank Pearson & Son, Ballinabarna, Skerries, Athy, Co. Kildare
1997	Frank Pearson & Son, Ballinabarna, Skerries, Athy, Co. Kildare Thomas Logan & Sons, Naas Industrial Estate, Naas, Co. Kildare Stramillian Agricultural Contractors, Stramillian, Kildangan, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare	Mr. Percy Podger, French Furze House, Kildare, Co. Kildare

Expenditure in each year in respect of these contracts is as follows:

Year	Environmental Works	Weed-cutting
	€	€
1997	71,292.49	8,378.84
1998	92,283.51	15,871.73
1999	16,638.65	19,998.38
2000	43,103.80	32,378.32
2001	97,519.36	34,997.16
2002	96,905.56	39,318.74
2003	157,707.86	30,645.00
2004	120,631.00 (to date)	28,375.00