Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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358. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a procurement process was carried out by her Department for awarding a contract to a company carrying out research on the development of a national childcare agency; if so, the details of this procurement process and the details of the contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27937/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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A review and redesign of the Early Learning Care and School Age Childcare (ELC/SAC) operating model was committed to in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028). The review ultimately concluded that a dedicated statutory agency (under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality) would be the optimal operating model for the sector for the years ahead.

It is envisaged that the agency will undertake the roles and functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start) the 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), and the operational functions carried out by the Departments Early Learning Care and School Age Childcare Division..

A procurement competition was undertaken by DCDE in order to procure business and management consultancy services in relation to the planning and design phase of the agency. The competition was carried out using the Office of Government Procurement multi supplier framework agreement Lot 8 for Organisational Change Management and Transformation with estimated contract values equal to, or in excess of €140,000. A number of expressions of interest were received with three bids eventually submitted in relation to the competition. Independent consultants, Indecon Economic Consultants, were successful and were appointed in December 2023 for a period of 18 months to provide consultancy services to inform this phase of the agency design. There are provisions within the contract for the duration to be the subject of three six month extensions if necessary.

The total fixed project fee for the term of the contract is €351,104, inclusive of VAT.