Vol. 526 No. 4
333 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the legislation which is required to be introduced to implement public private partnership projects under the national development plan which come under his Departmental control; when he will publish any such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26890/00]
The Department of Finance is at present considering the legislative position with regard to the implementation of public private partnerships. Any projects under the national development plan involving public private partnerships for which my Department may be responsible will, of course, have regard to the outcome of that consideration.
334 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department has a public private partnership section; the number of staff allocated to this section; the specific protects being dealt with by this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26905/00]
There is no public private partnership unit in my Department. However, I established an interdepartmental working group in August 1999, to develop guidelines and advise on the other key issues for the operation of a public private partnership – PPP – approach in relation to swimming pools. The group is chaired by my Department and comprises of members from the Department of the Environment and Local Government, the Office of Public Works, and representatives from three local authorities. The group was asked to examine the following issues: appropriate procurement procedures for PPPs; standard format for invitation to tender for a PPP; criteria and procedures for use by local authorities in selecting PPP partners; key issues for a model PPP contract for local authority swimming pools and how these might be best dealt with; review of the Department procedures for the planning, approval and financing of swimming pools; technical guidelines to take account of the PPP process; and any related matters. I expect to receive their report shortly.
