Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Contracts.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

127 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether contracts or extension of contracts, which might fall within the criteria for public advertisement and tender as required by EU or national legislation, were awarded by his Department or bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department without advertisement for public tender in the past seven years ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7761/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

EU public procurement directives apply to contracts above a minimum threshold — currently about £3.9 million excluding VAT, in the case of works or utilities, about £105,000 in the case of supplies and £156,000 in the case of services. The EU directives provide, with certain exceptions, for tendering procedures involving prior advertising in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

National guidelines apply to the public procurement of contracts with a value below the EU thresholds and are set out in the booklet "Public Procurement" (1994 Edition). The booklet generally calls for open tendering, preceded by advertising, but allows for restricted or negotiated tendering, without advertising, in special circumstances.

My Department complies with the relevant EU legislation and generally adheres to the national guidelines. My Department periodically issues circular letters to local authorities and bodies or agencies operating under its aegis calling for adherence to the EU legislation and the national guidelines relating to public procurement. My Department has not got a centralised record of contract award procedures applied to individual contracts awarded over the last seven years. Accordingly, I regret I am not in a position to furnish the information requested.