Written Answers Nos. 196-205
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the Departments that currently have the least attractive record in relation to delivery of public contracts and procurement; the provisions in mind, if necessary, to address any issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10669/23]
View answer200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which he and-or his Department are continuing to monitor all Departments and their agents with a view to accelerating and improving procurement, while at the same time maintaining the highest necessary standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10671/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 200 together.
My Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and seeks to ensure that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. The responsibility for the management and delivery of investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. The drawdown of capital expenditure from the Exchequer is detailed each month and is publicly available in the Fiscal Monitor, which is published on the gov.ie website. All line Departments and agencies submit information on their expenditure levels against profile to my Department, along with an explanation outlining details regarding any variance of under or over spending against profile.
As you know, my Department has been renamed to give an additional focus on the delivery of the NDP and to assist Departments in delivering on their much needed priority projects. I am looking at all the policy levers and supporting structures at our disposal that could enhance the delivery of critical projects as well as working with colleagues across Government to remove any potential barriers that are impacting on delivery. This work will focus on how projects are approved and appraised by the Government and Government Departments, the public procurement procedures required to comply with EU regulations under my own remit, and identifying capacity and capability gaps across the public sector and working to bridge these gaps.
Under EU law, public contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in an open and objective process to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. All Irish public bodies are obliged to spend public funds with care, and to ensure that optimal value for money is obtained in accordance with the Public Spending Code which sets out the rules and procedures to ensure that these standards are upheld across the Irish public service.
Each Accounting Officer is responsible for the monitoring of performance of public contracts under his or her remit and for ensuring that the public procurement function is discharged in line with standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures efficiently and effectively to deliver maximum value for money for the taxpayer. Contracting authorities are responsible for establishing arrangements for ensuring the proper conduct of their affairs, including conformance to standards of good governance and accountability with regard to procurement.
For procurements above the EU thresholds, minimum time-limits are set down for the different stages of the chosen contract award procedure in the 2016 Regulations. The time limits in the 2016 Regulations are minimum time limits. Contracting authorities should take into account the complexity of the tender and the volume or complexity of information that the tenderers are required to submit when setting any time limits. The timelines for the different procurement procedures can be found in Appendix V of the Procurement Guidelines.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), an office within my Department, has responsibility for the National Public Procurement Policy Framework which sets the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland. This framework enables a more consistent approach to public procurement across the public sector. The OGP has published the Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services on its website - www.gov.ie/en/publication/c23f5-public-procurement-guidelines-for-goods-and-services/ - to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the public procurement regulations. The guidelines are designed to improve consistency and promote best practice in the application of the public procurement rules to deliver best value for money. There is a section specifically dedicated to managing contracts contained within the guidelines which outlines the importance of active management by contracting authorities of contracts to maximise value for money.
Policy, guidance and implementation measures relating to capital projects is published on the Construction Procurement Reform website www.constructionprocurement.gov.ie where the Capital Works Management Framework provides a suite of best practice guidance, standard contracts and generic template documents are available to download for all contracting authorities to provide a consistent approach to the management of public works projects.
Finally, to assist contracting authorities in their procurement of common goods and services and to get value for money promptly, efficiently and without delay, contracting authorities are encouraged to check the Office of Government Procurement website for existing or planned procurement arrangements which may meet their needs.
202. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of problems with the State-owned building in Shannon, County Clare in which the Department of Transport has its offices (details supplied); if he will urgently acquire more suitable replacement accommodation in Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10731/23]
View answerThe Department of Transport (DoT) is located in a State owned building in Shannon County Clare. The building requires significant investment to address building fabric issues that have arisen over a number of years. This investment was under consideration when an opportunity to acquire a substantial property consisting of offices / warehousing in the Shannon area was identified. The property was acquired by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and has the potential to meet the long term requirements of the DoT and other State bodies in the area.
In 2022 the building was allocated to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the emergency response to the increased demand for accommodation for those seeking international protection in Ireland. Notwithstanding this, work on a long term master plan for the building is continuing and it is envisaged that the long term requirements of the DoT will be met there.
In the meantime the OPW are working closely with the DoT to identify an alternative location for the unit based in Shannon and to identify any measures that can be put in place to mitigate the impact of the building fabric issues.
203. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when his Department will sanction proposals, following a March 2020 Labour Court recommendation, to enable a new offer on pay, terms and conditions to be tabled to adult education tutors for their consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10739/23]
View answerThe terms and conditions of Adult Education Tutors employed by Education and Training Boards are a matter in the first instance for both the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The particular matters raised in the proposals are complex and raise significant issues which are being considered by my Department. My officials will continue to engage with the relevant Departments on these matters.
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the total number and value of unclaimed prizes from the national lottery in each of the past six years to date; the degree to which such unclaimed prizes revert to the Exchequer and-or to the lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10782/23]
View answerThe amount of Expired Unclaimed Prizes for which audited accounts are available in each of the past six years was as follows:
€
2021 17,054,620
2020 17,026,536
2019 18,993,483
2018 18,922,846
2017 16,164,125
2016 16,359,564
No amount of Expired Unclaimed Prizes has reverted to the Exchequer. The total amount of Expired Unclaimed Prizes in each year has, as prescribed in the Licence, reverted to (and been forfeited in favour of) the Operator of the National Lottery to be used solely for the promotion of the National Lottery within 365 days of forfeiture.
The number of expired unclaimed prizes per year is not available. Scratch card information specifically is subject to tight security protocols so that winning tickets cannot be identified by any personnel and so the number of individual winning scratch card tickets that were sold but not claimed is not recorded.
The regulatory focus is on the value of unclaimed prizes; the proportion of unclaimed prizes; any top prizes or high value prizes that are nearing expiration or actually expired; and, of course, that the expired unclaimed prizes are spent solely on promoting the National Lottery. In the case of higher value prizes, the Regulator ensures that PLI launches a public campaign to find the winner prior to the prize expiring.
205. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fáth nach ndéantar íocaíocht leis na teaghlaigh a bhíonn ag coinneáil scoláirí faoin scéim scoláireachta chuig scoileanna dara leibhéal ar na hoileáin ar laethanta nach bhfuil na scoláirí ann de bharr drochaimsire, tinneas, cluichí agus turais scoile de bharr go mbíonn orthu na seomraí a choinneáil dóibh na laethanta sin agus go mór mór le drochaimsir agus tinneas, is minic go dtarlaíonn sé sin gan choinne; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10735/23]
View answerFaoin tionscnamh ÁRAINN Gaeltachta ar cuireadh tús leis in 2007, cuirtear ciste ar fáil ar fiú suas le €150,000 in aghaidh na bliana chun gur féidir le suas le 30 scoláire iar-bhunscoile in aghaidh na bliana, scoilbhliain iomlán a chaitheamh ag freastal ar aon cheann den trí iar-bhunscoil ar na hoileáin Árann.
Íoctar deontas laethúil €33 faoin scéim seo le teaghlaigh atá cláraithe faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge/ÁRAINN Gaeltachta as na hoícheanta a chaitheann scoláirí ar iostas leo. Ní íoctar aon chúiteamh as tréimhse neamhláithreachta scoláirí a théann abhaile de bharr tinnis ná cúiseanna eile.
Leagtar é seo uile amach sna coinníollacha a bhaineann leis an mbeart a bhfuil cóip díobh faigthe acu siúd a chuireann an lóistín ar fáil.
Tá iarrtha agam ar oifigigh na Roinne breathnú ar na coinníollacha atá i bhfeidhm faoin togra féachaint cad is gá agus is féidir a dhéanamh le feabhas a chur ar an scéim.
