Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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312. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the temporary traffic measures at Ashtown Gate Junction beside Phoenix Park; if he will provide a timeline on the implementation of the temporary measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31970/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Dublin City Council have drafted a layout for an interim scheme to control traffic at the junction which involves tightening the junction with bollards and markings. These plans include installing dropped kerbs with tactile paving to facilitate pedestrians walking from Blackhorse Avenue to cross the road outside Ashtown Gate and then enter in through the pedestrian gate on the western side of the vehicular gate.The OPW has reviewed the proposals for the implementation of a temporary traffic scheme at Ashtown Gate and provided observations to Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council. The Office of Public Works has no plans to alter the protected structures at Ashtown Gate.

The timeline for the works at Ashtown Gate will be a matter for the local authorities carrying out the works.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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313. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will consider improving pedestrian access at the Ashtown Gate entrance to Phoenix Park, including for buggy users; whether the OPW has already considered such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31971/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Dublin City Council has developed a draft layout for an interim scheme to control traffic at the Ashtown Gate junction which involves installation of bollards and markings. These plans include installing dropped kerbs with tactile paving to facilitate pedestrians walking from Blackhorse Avenue to cross the road outside Ashtown Gate and then enter in through the pedestrian gate on the western side of the vehicular gate.

The OPW has reviewed the proposals for the implementation of a temporary traffic scheme at Ashtown Gate and provided observations to Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council. The Office of Public Works has no plans to alter the protected structures at Ashtown Gate.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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314. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will consider facilitating a home move for a person (details supplied) who resides in a replacement house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31972/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I am advised that the person referred to was immediately accommodated with a replacement property similar to and within proximity of the property he previously resided in. Another move is not under consideration.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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315. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the process for a business tendering for State or OPW contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31977/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Public procurement is governed by EU legislation and national regulations with the aim of promoting an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime that delivers the best value for money for the State. All Irish public bodies are obliged to spend or invest public funds with care, and to obtain optimal value for money in accordance with the Public Spending Code. The public procurement rules vary depending on the type of goods, services or works being procured and on their estimated value.

In general terms, there a number of key steps suppliers should consider, to help them be aware of, and tender for opportunities for public procurement contracts.

It is essential that suppliers interested in supplying goods, services or works to the public sector should register on eTenders.gov.ie (eTenders), the national tendering website. eTenders is the central online facility for all public sector contracting authorities to advertise procurement opportunities and award notices. It also facilitates the electronic submission of supplier bids and communications between bidders and contracting authorities with regards to tenders published on the site.

As part of a number of Government policy measures aimed at assisting SMEs accessing public procurement, sets the threshold at which contracting authorities are required to advertise all contracts for goods and services on eTenders at €50,000 (exclusive of VAT). Contracts with a value between €5,000 (exclusive of VAT) and the national advertising threshold of €50,000 (exclusive of VAT) may be awarded on the basis of responses to written specifications (for example, by email) issued to at least three suppliers or service providers. Contracting authorities also have the option to use the eTenders website to advertise tenders for low value purchases.

The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is a detailed EU standard system of codes for describing goods, services and works to be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and is also supported on eTenders. Suppliers should ensure that they are registered on eTenders with the CPV Codes relevant to their sectors in order to be notified of relevant business opportunities. Suppliers can also search eTenders for new and recent tenders and view related documentation and contract award notice information.

Suppliers should utilise the wide range of training, guidance and reference information and resources that my Department has developed and made available online, to help understand and navigate the eTenders website and the procedures and policies that govern public procurement in Ireland.

Suppliers are encouraged to read the tender documents carefully. Ensure that they meet the criteria to participate in the competition. Note the selection criteria and the mandatory/discretionary exclusion grounds (further information on these are in the Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services published on the OGP’s website). Ensure to fully read and understand the procurement requirements, specifications and award criteria.

Interested suppliers can then respond to the tenders that are of interest to them in the manner specified in the tender documentation.

Following the outcome of a tender, suppliers are advised to review and reflect on the result. Feedback can be requested if none is provided. Suppliers should take time to reflect on and explore the feedback received and use it to review and evaluate their tender process and approach.

If a supplier has a concern around a live tender, they can raise this through the Tender Advisory Service (TAS). TAS was established by the OGP in consultation with SME stakeholders to address concerns in relation to perceived barriers for SMEs in competing for tender opportunities.

The Government recognises the importance of assisting businesses, and in particular SMEs, to access public procurement opportunities. To that end my Department, through the OGP, has developed a wide range of supports, in terms of eTenders usage training resources, public procurement guidelines, tendering tips for suppliers and videos of real world case studies of success stories featuring Irish SME businesses. For further information I would encourage suppliers to visit the OGP website at OGP.GOV.IE.