Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the contracts won by a company (details supplied) for his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department since 2000; the value of these contracts; and if these contracts were properly advertised in a transparent way. [4543/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs was established in June 2002.

My Department has made available on its website details regarding consultancies (excepting those of a minor value, i.e. less than €5,000 excluding VAT) relating to the period since its establishment in June 2002 up to the end of December 2006. The relevant link, which will take the Deputy directly to these details, is: http://www.pobail.ie/en/CorporateSupport Services/Finance/Consultancies

Two contracts were awarded during the period June 2002-December 2006 to the company referred to by the Deputy. The values of the contracts were €99,559 and €94,235, respectively. For the Deputy's convenience, I have arranged for details regarding the contracts in question to be sent directly to him at his Oireachtas e-mail address.

In the case of both contracts, a restricted tender procedure was utilised in line with the public procurement guidelines that apply to contracts with a value above €50,000 and below the threshold for advertising in the Official Journal of the EU. Both of the contracts in question were in this category of expenditure. The procedure entailed circulation of the request inviting the submission of tenders to at least five suitably qualified firms in each case. Both contracts were awarded on the basis of objective criteria and a comparative assessment of tenders.

Bodies coming within the ambit of my Department have been asked to supply any relevant information in relation to contracts that may have been awarded by them directly to the company referred to by the Deputy. I will arrange for any such information that is received to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.