Written Answers Nos. 223-227
224. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a company (details supplied) will be notified of the outcome of an appeal relating to an afforestation licence which was withdrawn pending the outcome of an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3802/22]
View answerThe afforestation licence application to which the Deputy refers was originally decided in October, 2021. The decision was appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and, upon their notification of the appeal to the Department, the licence was suspended, in accordance with the relevant process.
When the licence decision was examined, following the appeal, it was discovered that the Appropriate Assessment Report was not advertised and opened for public consultation, which is now mandatory. The licence decision was revoked, with a letter issued to both the licensee and their registered forester. As the decision was revoked, to permit the consultation process to be completed, the appeal was deemed invalid.
The afforestation licence application was opened for public consultation, during which two submissions were received.
The consultation is now closed and the application has been returned to the Department’s Ecology Unit to finalise the environmental assessment. I would expect a decision to issue in the two to three months, but this depends on the assessment of the submissions received and on there being nothing further outstanding.
The FAC is operationally independent of my Department and issues its own decisions on forestry licence appeals when the appeal is discharged.
225. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing a GLAS application (details supplied); when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3844/22]
View answerThe person named was approved to GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2016.
Processing of the 2021 advance payment in respect of the application of the person named is at an advanced stage. Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue.
GLAS payments are continuing to issue on a weekly basis as applications pass all validation checks and are approved for payment.
226. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the tendering process used by his Department for State contracts granted in relation to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic; the name of each company, the services involved; the amount paid to each company in each of the relevant years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/22]
View answerMy Department has implemented various workplace controls to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace by complying with the Government’s public Health guidelines.
In line with prevailing and broader provisions applyinig to all Government Departments, my Department continously ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice with respect to procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation. EU and national rules promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money.
My Department availed of Office of Government Procurement (OGP) contracts, where available, in the procurement of the response to Covid-19 and the related supplies and services deemed requisite in that response.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table.
2020
|
Name of Company |
Service provided |
Tendering process |
Amount Paid € |
|
Wipeout |
Covid-19 Steel Bin Providers |
Three written quotes requested |
27,832 |
|
Store2000 |
Covid-19 Perspex screens reception desks & floor and wall stickers |
Three written quotes requested |
11,011 |
2021
|
Name of Company |
Service provided |
Tendering process |
Amount Paid € |
|
Wipeout |
Covid-19 Steel Bin Providers |
Three written quotes requested |
14,762 |
2022 to date
|
Name of Company |
Service provided |
Tendering process |
Amount Paid € |
|
NIL |
As regards the 12 State Agencies under the aegis of the Department, the placing of such contracts is an operational issue for the agencies themselves and I have referred the question to them for direct reply.
227. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the tendering process used by her Department for State contracts granted in relation to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic; the name of each company, the services involved; the amount paid to each company in each of the relevant years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4235/22]
View answerI can confirm that the only services contracted by my Department for the purposes of the Covid-19 response were provided by Quadra Consulting Ltd. The services provided were Covid-19 risk assessments and advice relating to our offices in Ballina and Dublin. The services were procured using a Framework Agreement established by the Office of Government Procurement for the provision of Health and Safety Training, Consultancy and Advisory Services.
The following amounts were paid:
|
2020 |
2021 |
|
€3,444 |
€2,214 |
