Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way his departmental contracts for taxi companies for the purposes of taxis for the use of departmental staff are decided and allocated; if there is a public tender process for taxi companies wishing to apply for these contracts; the process for allocating the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4637/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s policy on the use of taxis is that taxis should be hired only when no other suitable public transport is available. However, on occasion, it may be necessary for practical and/or safety reasons to avail of a taxi service. In such circumstances taxis are normally chosen from the taxi rank nearest to the point of departure.

Three taxi companies were paid directly by my Department in 2013. The amount paid under this arrangement was €3,720 and no amount paid to each company exceeded €1,500. The Department adheres to Department of Finance guidelines which provide that supplies or services of less than €5,000 in value might be purchased on the basis of verbal quotes from one or more competitive suppliers.

The recently established Office of Government Procurement (OGP) includes taxi services as a Category of procurement listed for sourcing at a central level and my Department will liaise with OGP officials in this regard.