Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2012
95 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 284 of 2 November 2011, when he will provide an answer to same; his views on whether it is acceptable that Dáil Éireann must wait in excess of six months for a reply to a Parliamentary Question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28703/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects to deliver integrated physical, social and economic regeneration, ranging from large-scale urban regeneration projects such as Ballymun and Limerick city to smaller estate regeneration projects in a number of regional towns around the country. Funding of €90 million has been set aside to support the National Regeneration Programme in 2012.
In 2009, over €100 million was provided by my Department to support the National Regeneration Programme. The amount of regeneration funding provided in respect of the projects referred to is set out in the following table:
|
€m |
|
|
Dublin City inner city flat complexes |
€11.5 million |
|
Tralee — Mitchel’s Crescent |
€2.25 million |
|
Sligo Borough — Cranmore |
€2.9 million |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown — Laurel Avenue |
€0.5 million |
|
Waterford City |
€8.1 million |
In the case of complex regeneration schemes, project staff are involved at every stage in the project life cycle ranging from initial socio-economic appraisal, planning and design, preparation of contract documents, procurement of services and works contracts, construction supervision and post project review. Depending on the availability of resources within individual authorities and the competencies and skill-sets required to progress projects through the various stages, project staff may be assigned to a regeneration scheme from within an authority's own staff complement or may be procured through open competition by way of fixed term or services contract. Contract staff costs may be project-specific or may, in cases such as engineering services, health and safety services contracts or other specialist service provision, relate to a number of projects under a particular regeneration scheme. Traditionally, professional fees were based on a percentage of project value/construction cost but are now generally based on fixed price/lump sum contracts.
In the case of two of the projects referred to, Cranmore and Mitchell's Crescent, a specific project team from within the local authority was assigned to the planning and supervision of regeneration projects and funding of €498,351 and €33,750 respectively, was recouped to the local authority in 2009.
Based on the information available in my Department, it is not possible with the necessary degree of certainty to disaggregate project staff-related costs in the case of recoupment claims submitted in respect of individual regeneration projects. Accordingly, my Department is working with the local authorities concerned to compile the information requested. Given the constraints on staff time and resources in the relevant local authorities and the urgent need to progress regeneration work programmes, it has not been possible to complete this task so far.
