Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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183. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [4639/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.

My Department has engaged a single taxi company to provide essential transport for official purposes. The DCYA travel and policy guidelines state ‘Every effort should be made to use public transport (bus, rail). Taxis should only be used where there is no suitable public transport available. Public transport, including designated airport buses/trains where conveniently available, should be favoured over taxis’. Where use of a taxi is required for official purposes the DCYA ‘Taxi Request From’ must be completed in full (including ‘Journey Details’) at the time the taxi is ordered. Taxi use must be approved at senior management level. A public procurement of taxi services for DCYA is due for re-issue in mid-2014.