Vol. 509 No. 4
302 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the consideration, if any, given by her Department to the adequacies of the work force of Dúchas currently serving Waterford city in view of the serious condition of some monuments in the area. [20267/99]
There is currently a shortage of suitably qualified staff employed to work on national monuments in Waterford city. A list of applicants for the positions of stone masons and general operatives has been prepared. Interviews to recruit suitable individuals to those positions will take place shortly. The condition of national monuments in Waterford city is kept under regular review.
303 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the procedure observed by each Dúchas depot in seeking quotations and tenders for work to be carried out, materials to be purchased or machinery to be hired; the officials involved; if her Department considers the system to be efficient and cost effective; when this system is audited; and the way in which it is monitored. [20268/99]
The six countrywide national monument depots are authorised to order work or materials. At present three quotations are usually sought for works or supplies above an estimated cost of £500. Materials of a specialised nature are often required in relation to conservation works and the clerk of works in each depot may order such materials-services from individual contractors up to a value of £2,000. These procedures have proven satisfactory over a long period of time.
Audits of the stores management system at Dúchas depots are undertaken from time to time by this Department's internal audit unit, as part of annual audit programmes agreed within the Department. These systems are, of course, also subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
