I propose to take Questions Nos. 586, 613 and 614 together.
My Department approved a project under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) for the construction of the Donabate Distributor Road. The project was submitted for funding by Fingal County Council, following a Call for Proposals in August 2016. The proposal was assessed by the LIHAF Advisory Group and LIHAF Management Committee and was recommended for approval. It received preliminary approval in March 2017 and a grant agreement was signed in October 2017. The overall cost of the project is €14.16 million, of which €10.62 million is being funded by the Exchequer, with Fingal County Council funding the remaining €3.54 million. The project is being managed by Fingal County Council and my Department reviews its progress on a regular basis, in line with the terms of the grant agreement.
I understand that the Donabate Distributor Road was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in July 2011 and the approved scheme comprises approximately 3km of dual-carriageway and 1km of single-carriageway road. At present, the scheme is being constructed as a single-carriageway road along its entire length, as this configuration is forecast to be sufficient to accommodate traffic flows in advance of the various developments taking place in and around Donabate. Construction is being undertaken, however, to include provision for upgrade to dual-carriageway standard in due course, in line with the scheme planning permission. Accordingly, underground utilities, drainage infrastructure, surface water attenuation ponds, junction alignments, bridge structures and land acquisition are all being implemented at present to accommodate dual-carriageway standard road, thereby minimising the level of works required in the future when the upgrade works are required.
This phasing is in line with the provisions of the Donabate Local Area Plan 2016, as adopted by Fingal County Council, and also with the Council’s LIHAF application.
The main contract for the construction of this scheme was tendered on eTenders in 2017 and a main contractor was subsequently appointed by Fingal County Council in line with public procurement requirements. Various water services upgrades were included in the original contract documents. Additional requirements have arisen, in consultation with Irish Water, in the intervening period as the scheme design was further developed and these measures are now being executed through the contract. Fingal County Council has advised that any changes to the contract in this regard are being implemented in line with public procurement requirements.
