Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
534. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government now that the tendering process for the social inclusion and community activation programme is completed, his views regarding the future of the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre, Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10292/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra551. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will receive interim funding post-31 March 2015. [10557/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 551 together.
My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) on 1 April 2015.
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, SICAP is subject to a public procurement process, which is in its final stages. Tenderers have now been informed of the outcome of their tender and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are in the process of issuing contracts to the successful tenderers.
It should be noted that as there is currently a 14 day standstill period in place, the public procurement process is still ongoing and, therefore, confidentiality requirements continue to apply. Following contract signature, Pobal will publish a Contract Award Notice in the Official Journal of the EU (http://ted.europa.eu/) and on the eTenders website (www.etenders.gov.ie ) announcing the results of the procurement process. Such notice is likely to be published in early April 2015.
Consistent with the transitional arrangements to extend the LCDP until the roll out of SICAP in April 2015 and to ensure business continuity, interim LCDP funding is being provided to the Cherry Orchard Equine, Education and Training Centre up to end March 2015, pending the conclusion of the SICAP competitive process.
My Department appreciates the importance of the work of the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre. However, the issues involved are broader than just those relating to SICAP. With regard to funding post March 2015, my Department and Dublin City Council are currently exploring options for a feasible approach and will be in contact with Cherry Orchard Equine Centre in that regard in the near future.
