Vol. 543 No. 2
503 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the arrangements made for the selection of the contract for the driver theory test; the way in which advertisements were placed; the location of these advertisements; the selection method and nominated successful operator; the location of the group's headquarters; the numbers employed there; the nature and extent of the contract awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26298/01]
The contract for the delivery of the driver theory testing service was awarded following a tendering process conducted in accordance with EU rules on public procurement. The open tendering procedure was used to select the successful contractor. A prior information notice advising of the upcoming tendering process was published in January 2000 in the EU Official Journal and the national press. The notice seeking tenders was published in the EU Official Journal in April 2000 and notification of the tendering process was also published in the national press at that time.
Following completion of the tendering process the contract was awarded to Prometric Thomson Learning, a company based in Manchester which is part of Thomson Learning, a division of the Thomson Corporation, a major conglomerate headquartered in the United States of America. A separate company, Prometric Ireland Limited, has been established here to operate the service. Some 57 persons are employed in Ireland. The contract is for a period of seven years. Driver theory testing commenced on 11 June, 2001.
