Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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637. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a full update in respect of an independent investigation into allegations against a company (details supplied); and if she has received an interim report and or briefing on the matters raised. [51137/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I would like to inform the Deputy that following receipt of correspondence to my Department on 13 September 2019 in relation to alleged procurement irregularities involving the Irish Prison Service and a named company, my Department’s Internal Audit Unit examined the complaint.

An independent review of the complaint has since been conducted by EY, which I understand is expected to be finalised by the end of this year.  A further allegation was received in 2020 and I am informed that this allegation is currently being investigated.

The nature of the allegations relate to the extension of a supplier contract and the awarding of works from this contract.

A new tender was completed in 2020 and I am informed that this was a complex and lengthy tender process involving extensive engagement with a number of parties including the Office of Government Procurement, the Chief State Solicitor's Office, and technical consultants.

I understand that the previous contract remained in operation until the new contract commenced in 2020. This was to ensure continuity of service provision for the prison estate and involved various works, ranging from commissioning and maintenance of mechanical and electrical and associated plant and systems, repairs, renewals and upgrades, and general, reactive and planned preventative maintenance. 

Where work was carried out beyond the original contract date, the expenditure has been reported in line with government accounting rules.