The procurement process for a service provider to provide and operate safety cameras throughout the State is taking place under national and EU rules. On 24 November a Request for Information, seeking Candidates interested in providing the service, issued on the government and public procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie and a notice was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The Contracting Authority is An Garda Síochána. The latest date for receipt of responses from interested parties is 16 January 2007.
All responses received will be evaluated on an individual basis in accordance with the criteria set down in the Request for Information document. A number of candidates will be awarded pre-qualification status and short-listed to proceed to the next stage shortly thereafter. A Request for Tender will be made to the short-listed candidates. The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of the tender received.
I attach a very high priority to the outsourcing and expanding the speed camera network and to ensuring that there will be no undue delay in the procurement process.