Clare Daly
Question:75. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there was ever an agreement between his Department and Bus Éireann to publish the redacted version of the FGS report. [11170/14]
View answerSchool Transport Provision
Questions (75)
Written answers
The report in question was compiled in the context of a confidentiality agreement between the authors and Bus Éireann. The publication of a redacted version of the report is currently the subject of discussions between my Department and Bus Éireann.
School Transport Administration
Questions (76)
Clare Daly
Question:76. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the conclusion of the Bus Éireann investigation of itself in relation to the affidavits sent from his Department to Bus Éireann regarding irregularities in school transport. [11172/14]
View answerWritten answers
I assume that the Deputy is referring to material sent to my Department and subsequently referred to Bus Éireann for investigation. The material, which was not an affidavit, made allegations in relation to individual employees of Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann, as employer, investigated these allegations in accordance with its procedures and could find no basis for instigating disciplinary procedures or referring any aspect to an Garda Síochána.
SOLAS Administration
Questions (77)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:77. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the renewal by SOLAS of an operators ticket in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11177/14]
View answerWritten answers
This is an operational matter for SOLAS.
SOLAS have been requested to provide the information directly to the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (78)
Derek Nolan
Question:78. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to restrictions relating to Government contracts wherein an applicant must be a member of the construction workers pension scheme; his views on whether this is a fair and competitive practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11085/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) public works contracts include a clause on Pay and Conditions of Employment, including pension contributions, which requires all those employed on the works to be paid in accordance with all applicable law. The following reference is made in relation to payment and conditions of employment of workers:
The Contractor shall ensure that the rates of pay and the conditions of employment, including pension contributions, comply with all applicable law and that those rates and conditions are at least as favourable as those for the relevant category of worker in any employment agreements registered under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2004.
There is no specific reference in any of the CWMF public works contracts to the Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS).
Irish Language
Questions (79)
John Deasy
Question:79. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years. [11054/14]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's questions the following is a list of expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years in my Department:
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Irish Translation Costs 2011 to 2013 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Year |
Nature of Cost |
Amount |
Total Amount |
|
2011 |
Irish Language Publications |
€2,987.37 |
- |
|
- |
Documents |
€1,882.61 |
€4,869.98 |
|
2012 |
Documents |
€3,759.02 |
€3,759.02 |
|
2013 |
Bilingual Signage |
€1,155.22 |
- |
|
- |
Documents |
€3,535.23 |
€4,690.45 |
|
Total |
- |
- |
€13,319.45 |
|
Office of Public Works Irish Translation Costs 2011 to 2013 |
- |
- |
|
Year |
Nature of Cost |
Total Amount |
|
2011 |
Documents |
€21,470.00 |
|
2012 |
Documents |
€32,598.00 |
|
2013 |
Documents |
€15,485.00 |
|
Total |
- |
€69,553.00 |
Office of Public Works Projects
Questions (80)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:80. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Office of Public Works document Towards a Liffey Valley Park 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11083/14]
View answerWritten answers
In 2006, the Office of Public Works (OPW) chaired a steering group comprising of the County Councils of Fingal, Kildare, South Dublin and Dublin City, to examine the feasibility of a Liffey Valley Park. The results of this study was published that year and it is a matter for each public body to progress recommendations from within its own resources.
To date the OPW has completed major works at Castletown House and Park, Celbridge, and addressed improvements and maintenance works at the Phoenix Park and Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (81)
Seán Fleming
Question:81. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the State does not publish the result of all public contract tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11122/14]
View answerWritten answers
Under the EU Directives on public procurement works, supplies and services the results of all public contract tenders above certain thresholds must be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the current threshold is €5.186 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by Government Departments the current threshold is €134,000 and for the remainder of public bodies the current threshold is €207,000. The current threshold for supplies and service contracts of entities operating in utility sectors (water, energy, transport and postal) is €414,000. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.
I understand that approximately two thirds of tenders which are above these EU thresholds have contract award notices published for them. The reason for this level of publication is that of the remaining tenders some may never be awarded or the tender competition may be cancelled. It is the responsibility of individual contracting authorities to publish award notices following the signing of a contract. This process is facilitated through the national eProcurement portal www.etenders.gov.ie.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is responsible for producing annual statistical information in relation to above-EU threshold procurement activity by the Irish public sector and for providing these statistics to the European Commission. The most recent data available on above EU threshold awards relates to 2011 and is as follows: Approximately 10% (valued at €240M) of the contracts awarded above EU thresholds in this State went to non-domestic companies. This represents less than 5% of the overall annual public procurement spend (approximately €13.1 billion).
Whilst contracting Authorities are not required to publish the results of tender competitions, under EU thresholds, they are required to advertise all procurement opportunities above €25,000 for supplies and services and €50,000 for works on www.etenders.gov.ie. Furthermore, guidance (Guidelines for a Competitive Process) issued by my Department to contracting authorities outlines best practice in relation to informing tenders of the outcome of each procurement process. This states that contracting authorities should provide unsuccessful tenderers with as much useful feedback as possible to enable them to have a better footing in future competitive processes.