Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

638. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of contracts for service that her Department and or bodies under her aegis have with a company (details supplied); and if she will provide a schedule of the contracts and a summary of the nature of same. [51138/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am informed that the Irish Prison Service has a number of contracts currently in place with the company referred to by the Deputy.

In July 2020 a contract was awarded following an Office of Government Procurement (OGP)-led tender competition for Hard Facilities Management Services.  This tender process involved extensive engagement with a number of parties including the Chief State Solicitor's Office, and technical consultants.

This contract is complex with multiple sites, multiple systems and multiple disciplines required to service and maintain the building fabric, infrastructure and assets throughout the prison estate, and includes:

- Planned preventative maintenance

-Reactive maintenance

-Follow-on maintenance 

-Call-out services 

-Emergency works

- Upgrades and refurbishments

- General and specialist labour 

-Replacement, repairs and renewals

-Installations and redecorations.

I am further informed that the company referenced is a member of the IPS's Small Builders Framework and following tender competitions in line with that framework, a number of small contracts have been awarded for the following projects:

-Mountjoy Prison: Control room reconfiguration/refurbishment & relocation of server room

-Mountjoy Prison: Canteen upgrade works

-Wheatfield Prison: In cell telephony cabling project

-Dóchas Centre: In cell telephony cabling project.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department’s Internal Audit Unit examined a complaint in relation to alleged procurement irregularities involving the Irish Prison Service and the company referred to in relation to a previous contract dating from 2014/2015. 

The nature of the allegations related to the extension of that previous supplier contract and the awarding  of works from this contract.

An independent review of the complaint has since been conducted by EY and it is expected that it will be finalised by year end.