Written Answers Nos. 202-211
202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a road at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will be repaired following its deterioration due to heavy vehicle use for the Office of Public Works' embankment reinstatement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1224/15]
View answerThe road that the Deputy refers to, between the R561 and a local property, is a public road and its upkeep and maintenance is the responsibility of Kerry County Council in the first instance.
203. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a tendering process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/15]
View answerBoatmen who were previously in receipt of Permits from the Office of Public Works to land passengers on Skellig Michael will be contacted, as normal, by letter in the next few weeks inviting them to apply for Permits for the 2015 season. Boatmen who do not respond will be deemed not to be interested in availing of 2015 Permits.
As indicated during 2014, the OPW also proposes to hold a competition for an additional Permit, commencing in 2015. The necessary arrangements for this competition are in preparation currently with a view to holding the necessary public process in time for the coming summer season.
No opening date for the Skellig Michael 2015 season has been set as yet. As is normal, this information will be announced publicly and advised to the Permitted Boatmen as soon as the decision has been made.
204. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the transfer of a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry to a community group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1226/15]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works have confirmed to Kilgarvan Tidy Towns Association that they are prepared to licence the former Garda station in Kilgarvan for community use.
The Chief State Solicitor's Office are currently engaged on the legal formalities with the Solicitor representing the Association. The matter will be concluded as soon as these formalities have been completed.
205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of staffing plans on a scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1227/15]
View answerThe current permanent staffing on the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme is 4.
It is hoped to recruit an additional 4 seasonal workers to this scheme during the summer months, subject to the availability of the necessary funding. These posts would be publicly advertised.
206. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if community child care facilities which operate on a not-for-profit basis, and have charitable status from the Revenue Commissioners, will be exempted from commercial rates following the recent amendment to the Valuation Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1282/15]
View answerThe Valuation (Amendment)(N0.2) Bill 2012 was passed by the Seanad on 20th November 2014 and includes a Government amendment, accepted at Report Stage, to insert into Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 an exemption from rates for properties occupied by parties that provide early childhood care and education on a not-for-profit basis. I intend that the Bill will be considered by the Dáil shortly.
Maintenance of the valuation list is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Valuation who is independent in the exercise of his functions. Changes to the valuation list can only be made when the Bill, including the provision referred to, is enacted.
207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the methodology and marking system used to decide tenders for State contracts for jobs such as cleaning of Garda stations and so on; if positive consideration is given to local tenderers over larger firms; if good reputation, best price and positive service history is taken into account; his views that these merits should have heavier weighting than the wording used in methodology statements, for example; his further views that red tape such as less impressively worded methodology statements, is preventing some small local firms from securing contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1310/15]
View answer208. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all firms seeking to secure State contracts for jobs such as the cleaning of Garda stations and so on will need ISO9000 rating in the future; if so, the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1311/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
Public Procurement is governed by EU and National legislation and rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money for public funds. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, location, organisational size, and reputation, and there are legal remedies which may be sought against any public body infringing these rules.
The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting. Circular 10/14 issued earlier this year by my Department is aimed at further opening up opportunities for small businesses that want to tender for public contracts and also to ensure that engaging with government procurement is as easy and low cost as possible. This guidance set out positive measures that contracting authorities and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) are taking to promote the involvement of smaller enterprises as well as highlighting practices that are to be avoided because they can hinder smaller businesses in competing for public contracts.
In relation to the question as to whether firms seeking to secure State contracts for services such as the cleaning of Garda stations will need the ISO9000 quality standard (or equivalent) in the future; there are no plans at this time to make this mandatory.
The OGP will continue to work with suppliers to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.
209. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the Office of Public Works' intentions for the Enfield, County Meath property which has remained closed for the past four years; and if he will consider making the property available to Meath County Council for the purposes of community use. [1388/15]
View answerAn Garda Síochána has confirmed that the property in question is an operational Garda station.
210. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe an bhfuil sé i gceist aige tairiscintí faoi leith agus comórtas faoi leith a reáchtáil maidir le seirbhísí aistriúcháin ó Ghaeilge agus go Gaeilge de bharr gur teanga oifigiúil de chuid an Stáit í; an bhfuil sé i gceist aige treoir a thabhairt do Ranna Stáit nach bhfuil Google Translate feiliúnach mar dheis aistriúcháin oifigiúil agus go gcaithfidh na haistritheoirí go léir a chuireann seirbhísí aistriúcháin ar fáil don Stát an Séala ó Fhoras na Gaeilge a bheith acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1422/15]
View answerAr an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais atá an fhreagracht seirbhísí aistriúcháin go gach teanga a bhíonn de dhíth ó na cuideachtaí san earnáil phoiblí a thagann faoina chúram a sholáthar, seirbhísí Gaeilge ina measc. Mar chuid den ullmhúchán chun na Creat-Chomhaontuithe reatha uile-Rialtais, atá ar tí dul in éag, do sheirbhísí aistriúcháin agus ateangaireachta (ina raibh seirbhísí Gaeilge san áireamh le teangacha eile) a chur amach arís ar tairiscint, d'fhoilsigh an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais "Iarraidh ar Fhaisnéis" ar www.etenders.ie an 28 Samhain 2014 inar fáiltíodh roimh thuairimí faoi mbealach is fearr le tairiscint a iarraidh ar na seirbhísí seo amach anseo agus go háirithe ar cheart próiseas tairisceana ar leithligh a bheith ann maidir le seirbhísí Gaeilge. Iarradh tuairimí freisin ar mar a d'fhéadfaí an próiseas tairisceana a dhéanamh ar bhealach a chuideodh le Fiontair Bheaga agus ar Mheán-Mhéide.
Breithneoidh an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais na freagraí ar fad a fuarthas ar an Iarraidh ar Fhaisnéis agus bainfear leas astu chun straitéis soláthair a fhorbairt maidir leis na seirbhísí sin. Táim sásta a dheimhniú ag an tráth seo, áfach, ag glacadh na dtuairimí a fuarthas san áireamh maidir le seirbhísí Gaeilge a sholáthar, go bhfuil sé socraithe ag an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais gan Gaeilge a áireamh sa liosta teangacha a thiocfaidh faoin soláthar seirbhísí teanga a bheidh ann go luath. Chomh maith leis sin, rachfar i gcomhairle leis an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta sula ndéanfar cinneadh ar an mbealach is fearr chun seirbhísí aistriúcháin go Gaeilge a sholáthar.
Meastar ag an tráth seo go bhforálfar sa tairiscint nach mór teastas Fhoras na Gaeilge a bheith ag gach aistritheoir agus gur aistritheoir sinsearach cáilithe ag a mbeidh taithí a dhéanfaidh gach aistriúchán a phrofléamh agus a cheadú sula gcuirtear ar aghaidh é chuig an gcuideachta a d'éiligh é. Meastar freisin go mbeidh foráil ann do spotseiceáil leanúnach agus do phróisis rialaithe caighdeáin lena n-áirítear athbhreithniú neamhspleách ar obair aistriúcháin shamplach ó am go ham.
211. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe bunaithe ar an treoir a thug an Roinn Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach Roinn, cad é líon agus cad iad gráid na bpost dá mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil; cad é líon na bpost sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla iontu cheana féin, arna bhriseadh síos de réir gráid; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; i gcás nach bhfuil an treoir ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe comhlíonta, cad é údar na moille agus cén uair a dhéanfar an scrúdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1436/15]
View answerMar fhreagra ar cheist an Theachta, is féidir liom a dhearbhú go bhfuil de chumas ag ochtar ball foirne obair na Roinne a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. B'fhéidir go bhfuil cuma íseal ar an bhfigiúr seo, ach is cinnte gur leor é chun freastal a dhéanamh ar riachtanais na heagraíochta. Mar gheall ar an ról ata aici, ni bhíonn mórán plé ag mo Roinn leis an ngnáth-phobal, cur i gcás i gcomhthéacs scéimeanna nó seirbhísí dírithe ar dhaoine aonair a sholáthar. Mar sin féin, déanann mo Roinn monatóireacht ar an éileamh atá ar a chuid seirbhísí trí mhéan na Gaeilge chun a chinntiú go gcomhlíontar é. Níl aitheantas tugtha do aon phoist nó réimsí oibre faoi mo chúram go mbeadh gá acu le oifigigh atá inniúil sa dá theanga.
