Results 7,261-7,280 of 10,867 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: Has the OPW already made an investment in this regard?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: When does Ms McGrath expect that facility to be available to customers?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: Does Ms McGrath intend to develop a relationship with Fáilte Ireland?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: How much does it provide?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: Going back to leases and property costs, the relevant figure has dropped from €107 million in 2012 to a budgeted cost of €86 million this year. Is it fair to say that in the years leading up to the crash, the public was not getting value for money? If we can now save in excess of €21 million on the property portfolio as budgeted for 2015 versus what was paid in 2012, is...

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have a question regarding public procurement. I realise there is a changing role here in the context of the national procurement service and so on. As I understand it, contracts must be advertised on the eTenders website where the cost will be €25,000 or more. Below that cost, the requirement is to secure three quotes. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: If I advertise on that website for a training course in health and safety, say, is it not the case that any service user assessing that advertisement will know that the very fact it is on eTenders means the minimum the OPW or any other procurement agency is prepared to pay is €25,000? Why would any bidder bother submitting an offer of €18,000, for instance, when it is clear the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: However, there is no requirement to do so below €25,000.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: If one is seeking to provide a service to the State and the projected cost is, say, €17,000 or €18,000 but the tender is posted on eTenders, one will know the minimum the relevant public body is prepared to pay is €25,000.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: A competitor would need rocks in his or her head to come in below €25,000.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: My point is that the fact a contract is advertised on eTenders suggests a minimum cost threshold of €25,000. It is counterproductive.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: What is wrong with getting three quotes for every service rather than putting all of them on eTenders where service users know the minimum budget is €25,000?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: However, it surely must be costing the State money.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is a little bizarre that we openly set a minimum and everybody advertises, presumably at the minimum figure. If advertising for something related to health and safety, why would someone come in at the figure of €18,000?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: That is the point I am making. There should be no threshold. Everything should be on the e-tenders site.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: I would love to see someone who knows the State is prepared to pay €25,000 making a bid of €18,000.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Appropriation Accounts 2013
Vote 13 - OPW
Chapter 4 - Accounting for OPW Agency Services (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: If that information is being compiled, may we obtain details of capacity and occupancy?

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Living Alone Allowance (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: 43. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to the decision to backdate the living alone allowance in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Wexford, if a review of this decision will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8533/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: 216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide full-time contracts to secretaries, employed by the board of management, in secondary schools, in order for them to be in receipt of the same entitlements as other permanent staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8544/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Community Involvement Scheme (26 Feb 2015)

Patrick O'Donovan: 252. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the abolition of the community involvement scheme; his plans for the reintroduction of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8557/15]