Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ferry Services.

Enda Kenny

Question:

172 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the name of the person employed by her Department to oversee the certification of passenger carrying vessels; to whom tenders have been awarded by her Department; the remuneration involved; the reason the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources are not consulted in regard to the awarding of tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5937/98]

Enda Kenny

Question:

173 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the grounds, if any, on which her Department can award ferry services to boat owners without consulting the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, which is the Government official certifier of vessels fitness to transport passengers at sea; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this method of operation is both costly and inefficient and in some circumstances can result in inferior vessels being selected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5938/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 172 agus 173 le chéile.

I assume that the Deputy is referring in his question to the passenger ferry services between Inishboffin, Clare Island, Inishturk and the mainland for which tenders were invited in December 1997. My Department is not responsible for the certification of passenger carrying vessels. The conditions of the contract for each service include that each such service should be operated using a suitable vessel which meets the appropriate classification requirements of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and compliance at all times with statutes, regulations and official recommendations pertaining to passenger service vessels in Ireland. All vessels for which tenders were submitted for those services were inspected by the inspector of navigation of the waterways division of my Department whose advice was subsequently available to me. The services to and from the three islands are being operated on a pilot basis for a period of 13 weeks and will be subject to review at the end of that period.

The following are the successful tenderers:

Island	Successful Tenderer
Inishturk	John V. Heanue & Son, Inishturk, County Galway
Clare Island	O'Malley's Ferry Service, Clare Island, County Mayo
Inishboffin	Patrick J. O'Halloran & Family, Inishboffin, County Galway

With regard to the Exchequer cost involved, the total cost of the three contracts is £14,963 for the 13 weeks. The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources was not formally consulted as each of the successful tenderers had the necessary certification from that Department. I assure the Deputy that the procedures outlined in the Government's guidelines on the procurement of State contracts were adhered to in the awarding of these contracts.

Enda Kenny

Question:

174 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who tendered for a passenger carrying service as advertised by her Department was refused and not consulted in this regard, in view of the fact that his ferry boat is fully licensed and certified by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5939/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The person referred to in the Deputy's question tendered for the provision of a passenger ferry service and was informed on 23 February 1998 that his tender was unsuccessful. The procedures outlined in the Government's guidelines for the award of public sector contracts were adhered to in the awarding of this contract. The conditions of the contract for the service in question include that the service should be operated using a suitable vessel which meets the appropriate classification requirements of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and compliance at all times with statutes, regulations and official recommendations pertaining to passenger service vessels in Ireland.

All vessels for which tenders were submitted were inspected by a qualified officer of my Department. The service is being operated on a pilot basis for a period of 13 weeks and is subject to review at the end of that period.