A tender from the last remaining consortium in the PPP Bundle 2 process for the SETU Cork Road Campus has been received and is currently being evaluated by the Department of Further and Higher Education, in collaboration with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has welcomed the news, saying: “I am on record as expressing my deep frustration with the slow nature of the PPP process which is being managed by the National Development Finance Agency. The reality is this bundle experienced a number of setbacks, not least construction inflation caused by the war in Ukraine”.
He continued: “As a result, three of the four consortia that were shortlisted for this bundle comprising of the building and maintenance of five academic building across five campuses withdrew from the process. This left one remaining consortium and there was a risk the entire PPP bundle would be mothballed last year with a new direct tender commencing. I felt this would have caused further significant delays and I argued for the PPP tendering process to be completed which Minister Harris has now confirmed”.
In a letter to Senator Cummins, Minister for Further and Higher Education and soon to be Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said:
“Further to our ongoing engagement in relation to PPP Bundle 2, I wish to confirm the final tender has been received. A full technical and financial evaluation is currently being undertaken of this bid. It is anticipated that this will be completed in the next few weeks”. He went on to say “As you know, I am acutely aware of the importance of this project to SETU and I will ensure the new Minister for Further and Higher Education is fully appraised in early course. I assure you I remain fully committed to the delivery of PPP Bundle 2 and look forward to continuing to work with you on this project”.
Senator Cummins added: “I expect a decision to be made on this in the coming weeks. In my discussions with Simon Harris, since his elevation to party leader, he has confirmed that he is categorically committed to the delivery of PPP Bundle 2 and will work with the new Minister to get a memo to cabinet as quickly as possible”.
“This has been one of my top priority projects to get over the line and I am satisfied that we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I will be engaging straight away with the new Minister when they are appointed and I have been in regular contact with Minister Paschal Donohoe over the past three weeks to ensure this project is prioritised for an early decision”.
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