David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this matter this evening. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for carrying on and managing the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and the Minister has no direct role in the management of the finances of the Garda College in Templemore. It is important to note that the Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and that expenditure in relation to the Garda College and the procurement procedures operated at the college are primarily his responsibility. The Deputy will also be aware that the Garda Síochána's internal audit report on financial procedures in the Garda College, which was completed in February 2017, raised serious issues in relation to governance and accountability in the college. Oversight of the implementation of the recommendations of that report was referred to the Policing Authority by the Minister's predecessor in March 2017.

One of issues of concern highlighted by the report was that the manner in which goods and services for the college were procured was not in accordance with public procurement legislation. The Commissioner accepted the findings set out in the report and put in place arrangements to ensure that its recommendations were implemented. The Commissioner has advised that, upon a request from An Garda Síochána, the Office of Government Procurement issued a request for tenders on 16 November 2017 via the eTenders procurement portal to establish a single supplier framework for the provision of goods to the college. To encourage small businesses to bid for this contract, the competition was divided into 13 product lots. The Minister is further informed that the request for tender for the food contracts for the Garda College restaurant clearly outlined that all labelling of the goods must comply with national and European food labelling requirements. The tender also included requirements in relation to HACCP and food safety compliance. The Minister is advised that the procurement process is complete and that contracts have been awarded to the successful tenderers.

The Policing Authority has assessed the action taken by An Garda Síochána regarding the recommendation in the audit report dealing with procurement at the Garda College and has deemed it completed. The Garda Commissioner has advised that the principal administrator at the college continues to ensure that the procurement of all goods and services is in line with public procurement procedures.

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