Confirmation of an extension to the operations and maintenance contract for a number group water schemes in the Monaghan Design Build Operate (DBO) Bundle has been welcomed by all those involved.
The Monaghan DBO bundle was the first such bundled project to be piloted in Ireland, with the Truagh GWS treatment plant commissioned and officially opened in June 2003. Eight more Monaghan GWSs and three public supplies began 20 year O&M contracts on a staggered basis over the following three years. In June of this year, agreement was reached between all relevant parties to extend individual contracts so that their expiry coincides with the expiry date of the final O&M contract in August 2026.
Reassurance
The contract extensions ensure a continuity of supply to group water scheme members and will allow for technical reviews of the projected future needs of each GWS in the Monaghan DBO bundle.
The extension also gives ample time for the Rural Water Working Group’s DBO sub-group to complete its review of the DBO bundling process throughout the sector and make recommendations ahead of the next period of new, long-term contracts.
As part of the review process, the NFGWS made a submission to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in August 2020, following a consultation process with GWSs, detailing the views of the GWS sector on how the DBO bundling process could possibly be improved going forward.
This article originally featured in the most recent edition of the Rural Water News magazine. To read the full edition and to sign up to our magazine mailing list, click here.
