Council asks for North Quays visit in wake of controversy
Part of the North Quays, August 2024
Councillors have asked for 'in-depth' look into the North Quays Strategic Development Zone, in the wake of recent events.
A recent audit report revealed that costs were 'escalating' in regards to project consultancy fees.
Principal Local Government auditor James Moran said: "Management indicated that the current fee estimate is just over €24 million including VAT."
By the end of 2024, the cumulative payment to the consultants amounted to €13.4 million. The figure is expected to rise.
Chief Executive Sean McKeown said that the Council were "seeking legal advice" to ensure full compliance with public sector procurement regulations and "to explore any further mitigation measures that may be necessary".
At the January meeting of the Metropolitan Council, Councillor Jim Griffin remarked that the North Quays was in the news ‘for all the wrong reasons again with the audit report."
He said: "I would ask maybe if the councilors would support me, if we could even get maybe 10 minutes with BAM and the CEO, just for an update, because I know we as councillors don't micromanage the finances, but it would be nice if we were kept up to date."
He continued: "If they could answer some of the questions that were posed to us over the past week and a half. Personally, I would like to get a more detailed, in-depth analysis from BAM and where we're going with that."
Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Jason Murphy stated: "At this stage, it's a long, long time since we had a presentation from Harcourt Developments to us as a Council." On visiting the site, he said: "It think its about time that us Councillors get a birds' eye view, to get onsite."
Director of Services Michael Quinn confirmed that the Councillors of Piltown Municipal District had made a similar request, and said it was a 'matter of putting it in the diary.' He added: "BAM are more than happy to host visits."
