Written answers

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Contracts

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and nature of the work involved; the qualifying criteria that was applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60088/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Developments procurement policy aligns fully with the guidelines produced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The OGP guidance requires public tendering to take place for the supply of goods and services with a value of over €25,000 (excluding VAT) and for capital works valued at over €50,000 (excluding VAT).

As such, the procurement of, for example, low value consumables does not require public tender, but rather a minimum of three verbal or written quotes, depending on the value. The table below details contracts granted above the levels referenced above which were granted without going to public tender.

Year Company and nature of work Details
2021 Galway Aviation Services Limited (GASL) for €910,000 for Air Services to the Aran Islands The existing contract for the air service to the Aran Islands was extended by 1 year from 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022, on the same terms, in order to ensure continued provision of this lifeline service while the renewal process for a long term Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract for the air service was being put in place. (A new contract was subsequently put in place via tender.)
2021 ESRI for €210,000 for research programme to support the monitoring and development of rural and community policy and evaluation This research partnership, agreed between DRCD and the ESRI, provides that the outputs from the research programme will be published and disseminated widely. Consequently, the benefits of the research undertaken will not accrue exclusively to DRCD and the Department will not have exclusive ownership rights to same. ESRI may publish outputs independently, for example, in journals or conference proceedings. The output is open for all to use and may be looked upon as a public good. A competitive tender is therefore not required in this instance, in line with Article 14 of Directive 2014/24/EU. The contract was signed on 17/11/2021 and will run until December 2023.
2020 Galway Aviation Services Limited for €547,758 for Aerodrome Management Services for Aerfort Chonamara Existing contract extended to allow new longer term contract to be put in place.(A new contract was subsequently put in place via tender.)
2020 Galway Aviation Services Limited for €299,787 for Aerodrome Management Services for the Aerodromes located on the Aran Islands, Inishbofin and Clifden, Co. Galway Existing contract extended to allow new longer term contract to be put in place.(A new contract was subsequently put in place via tender.)

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