Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way 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. [4651/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Transport Tourism and Sport has a contract for the provision of a taxi service. This contract dates to 1992 and there has been no procurement process since then. The cost of these services was €9,349 in 2013. The service is mainly used  where other public transport options are unavailable.

Following an internal review of the costs of the service and in consultation with other Departments, it is considered that there may be better value available.  As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is due to commence operations over the first half of this year. The OGP will procure common goods and services that account for 60% of public procurement spend.  Procurement of taxi services are included in services to be provided through the activities of the OGP. The Department will avail of the services of the OGP to secure the most economical arrangement for the provision of a taxi service. This would be more advantageous than the Department undertaking  solo procurement process.