Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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127. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department to the public; when the term of the agreement will end; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15732/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department has two arrangements in place for the provision of credit/debit card acquiring services. My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service avails of a Framework Agreement put in place by the Local Government Management Agency, and open for use by all non-commercial contracting authorities in the public sector, for the supply of services by Elavon. The Framework Agreement commenced on 7 April 2011, was due to expire on 6 April 2014 and has been extended for a further year until 6 April 2015. I understand a procurement competition will be advertised later this year to ensure new arrangements are in place by 6 April 2015. Secondly, the National Archives of Ireland conducted a tender process in 2012 and awarded a one year contract, to Elavon, in December 2012. This contract expired on the 13th December 2013 and the National Archives of Ireland is currently reviewing the contract having regard to the Framework Agreement in place with its current service provider.