Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 6

Written Answers. - Supply of Dentures.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

43 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the current figures showing the amount of money being spent by the Eastern Health Board on the sourcing of dentures; the proportion of such expenditure which represents the sourcing of dentures from the United Kingdom; whether United Kingdom suppliers are on a two-year contract; if his attention has been drawn to the loss of business to Irish suppliers with a risk of job losses in respect of the sourcing of dentures from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19652/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): My Department has made inquiries of the Eastern Health Board in regard to the matter raised by the Deputy.

I have been advised by the board that to date in 1996 the Eastern Health Board has spent a total of £185,000 on the manufacture and supply of dentures. Up to 30 June 1996, 100 per cent of this work was carried out on contract by eight Irish-based companies. However, since 1 July 1996 all dentures and denture repairs are being provided by a U.K. based company which is under contract to the board.

As the annual value of the contract exceeds the allowable threshold for exemptions, 200,000 ECUs or £154,000, the board was obliged last March, under EU directives on public procurement, to advertise the contract for the manufacture and supply of dentures in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Award criteria for the contract were detailed in the advertisement and in the tender documents. The contract was also advertised in a national newspaper.

I understand that prior to advertising the contract the eight Irish-based companies who had been supplying the service up to then were invited by the board to attend a meeting in Dr. Stevens' Hospital at which the new arrangements were explained. The contract was awarded for a two year period to 30 June 1998. It was awarded on the basis of the economically most advantageous tender having regard to price, quality, turn-around time, infection control measures, clinical acceptability, after sales service, delivery-collection costs, technical and performance standards and any other criteria necessary to ensure that the best value for money is achieved, as specified in the tender documents.