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Direct Provision System

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (695, 696)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

695. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a firm (details supplied) was first contracted by the Reception and Integration Agency to inspect direct provision centres; if he will explain the reason pre 2010 contracts were not published per procurement rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26816/13]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

696. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular format the amount paid to a firm (details supplied) for inspecting Direct Provision hostels annually, since the contract was first awarded; from which budget this sum is paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26817/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.

The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) is a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers under the direct provision system. 4,650 persons are currently being accommodated in 34 centres under contract to RIA.

These questions concern a Galway based firm, QTS Limited, which is contracted by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) to carry out inspections of asylum accommodation centres.

The services of an external company with expertise in fire and food safety to inspect accommodation centres were first sought in January, 2002, by way of a pilot scheme. Thereafter, the service was procured through a published tender. The first Request for Tender (RFT) was published in the second part of 2002 with a closing date for receipt of tenders of 21 August, 2002. Since then, five publicly advertised procurement competitions were held, the last three of which were won by QTS Ltd. RIA is currently preparing a new RFT for inspection services, which is scheduled for publication in September 2013.

The reference by the Deputy to pre-2010 contracts not being published per procurement rules is not understood. Moreover, it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to RFTs rather than contracts, since contracts following tender competitions are generally not published. All of the tender competitions mentioned above fully complied with all procurement rules. Between 2002 and 2004, all competitions were advertised in the national press. Between 2004 and 2008, all competitions were published on the e-tenders website and RIA also published advertisements in the national press alerting potential tenderers to the competition. After 2008, all competitions were published on www.etenders.gov.ie only.

Since the company was first contracted to provide inspection services, QTS Ltd has been paid the following amounts:

Year

Amounts paid to QTS Ltd.

2007

€25,289.00

2008

€28,132.50

2009

€36,450.00

2010

€21,177.50

2011

€36,185.50

2012

€20,018.25

2013

€14,391.00 (up to 09/04/2013)

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