Written answers
Thursday, 1 April 2021
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Public Procurement Contracts
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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102. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the ESRI, IPA and SEUPB have independent health and safety advisers at present; if so, if the procurement of such which was carried out in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17890/21]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the first instance, the Deputy may wish to note the nature of the bodies referenced in his question. The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) are companies limited by guarantee who are in receipt of grant funding from my Department. The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a cross-border North South Implementation Body, established on foot of the Good Friday Agreement and jointly sponsored by my Department and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. The SEUPB operates under the policy direction of the North South Ministerial Council, and is headquartered in Belfast, with smaller offices in Omagh and Monaghan.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
| Body | Independent Health and Safety advisors present | Services procured in the last 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) | Yes – H&S Advice is currently provided as part of a facilities management service | The ESRI tendered for its facilities management services in 2020 and a number responses were received. In the light of the continuing Covid restrictions, a risk assessment was carried out on the feasibility of changing provider during this period. Following the assessment, it was decided to cancel the process and extend the current service providers contract. A new procurement process will be held as soon as practical. |
| Institute of Public Administration (IPA) | No independent Health & Safety advisors present. The IPA has a Facilities Officer in place who is the nominated competent person under the HSA’s legislation. This is supplemented by independent advice when deemed necessary. | A fire safety assessment of the IPA building complex was carried out in 2020. This service was procured through relevant procurement guidelines. |
| Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) | Yes | The SEUPB uses the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Framework to appoint external companies to provide Health and Safety Training such as First Aid and Fire Marshall Training. The SEUPB also has a contract with a workplace compliance company that provides online Health and Safety training to all SEUPB staff members. |
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