Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Tendering Procedure.

Richard Bruton

Question:

564 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the fines on the spot system was put out to tender; when the system was to be in place under the tender; the reasons for the delay; the original tender price; and the expected final cost. [8060/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The notice advertising the competition was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 12 May 2001. The closing date for the receipt of tenders was 29 June 2001. Following detailed consideration of the matter, including the evaluation by the Garda authorities of the tenders received, contract discussions with the preferred supplier commenced in April 2002. The contract was finalised and signed with the successful tenderer in September 2002 at a total cost of €7.4 million exclusive of VAT.

The request for tender document targeted a 15 month timeframe, from commencement of the project, for the supplier to develop the system. This will be followed by a period during which the system will be piloted and monitored before being rolled out nationwide by the gardaí. In this connection, it will be noted that the project commenced in October 2002.

Although this project is substantial and complex, my Department and the Garda Síochána are fully committed to its implementation as quickly as possible. I am not in a position at this time to indicate to the Deputy the likely final cost of the project as this will depend,inter alia, on the extent of the changes that will require to be made to the PULSE system as well as the building of electronic interfaces to the national driver file and the courts computer system.