UPDATE ON WATERWAYS IRELAND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN ENNISKILLEN

1. In June 2000, the North South Ministerial Council, agreed that Waterways Ireland would have a Headquarters Building in Enniskillen, with Regional Offices in Scarriff, Co Clare; Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim; and Dublin.
2. In August 2000, in accordance with procedures, Waterways Ireland contracted Construction Service now the Department of Finance and Personnel NI - Central Procurement Directorate to project manage the Headquarters Building on its behalf.
3. In January 2002, approval from the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, was sought to proceed with the proposed new Headquarters Building, however, due to the dissolution of the Assembly the decision to proceed was subsequently delayed.
4. In July 2004, Waterways Ireland was informed by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure that it was permitted to reactivate the process, which was still under the project management of the Central Procurement Directorate.
5. Central Procurement Directorate advised Waterways Ireland that a new procurement strategy should be adopted given the significant changes in construction procurement policy that have developed during the life of the project.
6. The project will comply fully with the "Achieving Excellence in Construction" initiative, with particular emphasis on design quality, sustainability and health and safety. It is expected that the completed building will not only provide a quality working environment for Waterways Ireland staff, but that the building will be one of which the people of Enniskillen can be justifiably proud.
7. Waterways Ireland has agreed a revised programme with Central Procurement Directorate for the construction of the new headquarters in Enniskillen. They have instructed CPD to prioritise the commencement of the process to ensure that the HQ building can proceed at the earliest possible date in line with EU procurement procedures and to current design standards.
8. Waterways Ireland hopes to appoint a contractor in the autumn of 2005 with completion of the new headquarters in summer 2007.

- Ends -

Further information from:

Ms. Aoife Morrissy, Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland,
00 353 71 9650787 or 00 353 87 9918412. Or:
Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland, 00 44 28 66346203.

Date: 06.04.05
PR050009