asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) how many tenders were received for the building of the new school at Stabannon, County Louth, (b) what was the difference in price between the tender accepted and each of the other tenders, (c) whether it was because of the difference in price that none of the other tenders was accepted, and (d) when it is proposed to invite fresh tenders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tenders for Louth School.
It is contrary to practice to disclose details of competitive tendering.
I am not at present in a position to say when fresh tenders will be invited in this case.
I asked the Parliamentary Secretary how many tenders were received. Is that a detail which it is unusual to disclose? How many tenders were received?
I would not mind a man like Deputy Killilea asking for information of that type, but I would not expect a man who was a member of the Government to ask for it.
What is the point?
The question was allowed.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell me how many tenders were received for the school; I cannot get any information from the Minister for Education in regard to it.
I got no tenders.
What exactly does the Deputy want to know?
Why this school building is not being gone on with. The Miniter for Education discloses in an aside that there was one tender accepted and then the——
The only matter the Deputy may discuss is the reply to this question.
He wants to know about tenders, which I will not tell him. It would be contrary to all practice.