Pipe-laying contract row before court

A dispute over an alleged "confusing" and unlawful procedure adopted by Irish Water concerning the awarding of a contract to lay 10km of water pipes in Kerry has come before the High Court.

KC Civil Engineering Ltd (KCC) secured leave yesterday for a judicial review of the September 2014 decision of Irish Water rejecting KCC’s tender of €1m for the pipe-laying contract. Irish Water intends to offer the contract to the next lowest tenderer, the court heard.

The ‘County Kerry Water Conservation Project — Main Rehabilitation Works — Tralee Estates’ contract was for the installation of 10km of pipes to service 680 houses in various estates in Tralee.