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Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2019

Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Questions (315)

Shane Cassells

Question:

315. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on purchasing mobile telephones for staff in her Department for work-related business in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by grade; if her Department has a contract with a mobile telephone company (details supplied) to supply mobile telephones if needed; if so, the name of the company; the date on which the contract for the supply of mobile telephones to her Department is next due to expire; and the robust steps taken to ensure that the costs incurred on work related telephones are the best value for the taxpayer. [47920/19]

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Written answers

In order for the staff of my Department to fulfil their role it is necessary that they are provided with the appropriate equipment and services to support our customer’s needs. In doing so, at all times, my Department is aware of the need to achieve value for money in the delivery of such services.

My Department does not purchase mobile phones but purchases a fixed monthly price for a bundle of products and services which includes mobile phones. These costs are commercially sensitive. A breakdown of mobile devices per grade is presented as follows.

Grade

Number

Management Team

13

Principal Officer

82

Assistant Principal

287

Higher Executive Officer

1355

Executive Officer

235

Clerical Officer

45

Grand Total

2017

During 2018 my Department ran a competitive tendering process under the Office of Government Procurement’s (OGP) Framework Agreement for the provision of Mobile Voice and Data Communications and Associated Products and Services. A contract was awarded to Vodafone Ireland on 1 November 2018 for a period of two years and will expire on 31 October 2020.

My Department carefully monitors costs and usage incurred by its mobile phone users and has robust procedures in place to ensure that usage is maintained within the terms of the contract.

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