Legal delay on speed cameras

THE INTRODUCTION of privatised speed cameras may be further delayed after one of the bidders for the multimillion euro five-year contract lodged an objection to the tender process.

Privatised speed cameras are not now expected on Irish roads before the middle of next year, one year after the deadline set for their introduction in the Road Safety Strategy.

Serco, one of the underbidders, is believed to have outlined several concerns with the process, including that its bid of around €13 million was €5 million less than the winning tender. A spokesman for Serco declined to comment on the matter last night. Serco operates a similar speed-camera system in Victoria in Australia.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey acknowledged after the Budget last week that privatised speed cameras will not appear on Irish roads before the middle of next year, partly because of the "legal action". As a result, the Government has provided just half the required annual funding for speed cameras in 2009. Serco is also understood to have queried the weightings given to certain aspects of the tender.

In a response to questions about the project, a Department of Justice spokesman said: "The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that they have been dealing with various issues which have been raised by various companies that participated in the process."

Sources say while no case has yet been lodged in the courts, the objection may delay the awarding of the contract as both the Garda and the Department of Justice are keen to resolve it prior to signing the contract.

The Irish Timeshas learned that a number of other consortiums involved in the tender process had misgivings but opted not to object. One firm that bid for the contract said a number of requirements stipulated during the tender process were "extremely vague". "It was not made clear whether one or two persons were required to operate a mobile van carrying speed camera equipment . . . During a briefing it was also not clear how the 'process flow' was to be protected. We were asked for our suggestions on this."

The winning Go Safe consortium includes Spectra, French firm Egis (the parent company of Transroute which operates the Dublin Port Tunnel) and Australian multinational Redflex. Other consortiums that bid for the contract included Parkrite, Civic Compliance Ireland (made up of Newcourt and Tenix Solutions) and computer firm Fujitsu Siemens.