Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 30 January 2014

Public Accounts Committee

2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 6 - Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works

12:55 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Under the previous system, as led by the OPW, there was a number of procurement processes in place for, say, the provision of printers, stationery and so on. I am interested in the detail of the switch-over process and the value of the equipment for which the OPW was formerly responsible. My question relates specifically to any overlap that might have arisen. Perhaps Ms McGrath will speak to Mr. Quinn about this. When the new procurement process came into play, I understand equipment such as printers and photocopiers was taken out and new devices installed. Who got the value for the equipment that was taken out and how did that replacement transaction take place?

Deputy Connaughton made the point that many Oireachtas Members have received complaints that there was greater value for money at many locations around the country under the old system than what we are seeing now. When Ms McGrath provides the information I have requested, will she include the cost per copy under the old system compared with the cost under the new system? I am told that in terms of the national spend, it may look as if we are getting value for money but, in fact, a significant number of locations were getting better value under the previous system. I would like to tease out that argument at some stage with either Ms McGrath or Mr. Quinn, but it requires me to obtain the necessary information from both of them. We are dealing with two separate timeframes and two separate procurement processes.

The OPW provides €15.5 million in its accounts for maintenance under the urban flood relief scheme. Does it actually carry out that work?