The Department and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, have established a very constructive interaction with the Office of Public Works, OPW, on site acquisition and accommodation in Clonakilty which has been informed by site visits and regular consultation. As the Deputy will be aware, on foot of this interaction, a site has been acquired in Clonakilty, last month, to accommodate both the Department and BIM.
A comprehensive specification of the Department's requirements was forwarded to OPW in April which provided a basis for very positive discussion. We have reached broad agreement with the OPW on the operational space element of this specification. A similar specification from BIM is under active discussion between BIM and the OPW. I expect consultation between the Department, BIM and the OPW, on the fit out and design elements in each organisations specification, to get under way shortly with a view to facilitating the OPW in completing a tender document for a design-build solution in Clonakilty.