Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he will insist that a school currently availing of consultancy or design team services will be required to tender for professional services to report on summer works even in circumstances in which the consultants, currently [i]in situ[/i], prepared the summer works submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13910/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware all funding allocated under my Department's Devolved Schemes including the Summer Works Scheme to allow school management authorities carry out building or improvement works to their schools, must be offered to the market in accordance with EU and National procurement guidelines. School management authorities must comply with all the requirements of Technical Guidance Documents TGD 007 and TGD 008 (Design Team Procedures for Small Works and Engaging Professional Consultants for Small Works respectively) which are available on my Department's website. Failure to do so may expose the school management authorities to challenge and subsequent financial penalties from a consultant or contractor who feels he/she was not afforded an opportunity to tender. Any such challenge could also result in the project being substantially delayed. The circular letters for devolved schemes deals with the appointment of consultants for the preparation of reports and is specific that consultants should be appointed for that task only.