asked the Minister for Finance the number of tenders required by the Office of Public Works as a minimum before consideration is given to those received.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - OPW Tenders.
30.
Every tender received within the period allowed for tendering is given full consideration on its merits.
To specify that tenders will be considered only if not less than a certain number are received would not be practical.
Why then was the excuse given by the Department that they had only received three tenders for the building of Donnybrook school and that they could not go ahead with the building unless they got additional tenders? This was the excuse given for the delay.
Sanction has been given for the building of that school.
Sanction has been given now but it was delayed for six months and the excuse given was that they had only three tenders, whereas they require five in toto. I want to know what number they require in the Department.
If only one tender is received and it is from a suitable contractor and considered to be at a fair and reasonable price it is accepted.
The Department gave the information that there were three tenders received and their excuse for not going ahead with the job was that they required at least five tenders. If this is so surely the reason is that the Government had not the money and could not give it and wanted to delay the building. Is that not the fact?
No, that is not the fact at all. I may have something to say on that score if I am allowed to reply to my Estimate in the near future.
Why not reply to the question first?
Why did you not accept the tender?
The tender was accepted.
This has nothing to do with the question which relates to the number of tenders.
I asked the question: "How many?" and the Minister said that one would do. I asked in the case where there were three——
(Interruptions.)
I have a responsibility with my officials to ensure that the public get proper value for the money that I am spending on their behalf. I intend to carry out that responsibility.
That does not answer the question.
What about the £100,000?
The Parliamentary Secretary does not know the answer.
I do.
If he does, he will not tell us.
The Deputy had the answer.
In view of the incomplete answer, I wish to raise this question on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.