I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 to 129, inclusive, together.
The establishment of the Education and Training Boards (ETBs), the dissolution of FÁS and the establishment of SOLAS in 2013 has led to major changes in the co-ordination, funding and delivery of further education and training provision. This includes changes in the operation of contracted training where ETBs engage the services of third party providers to deliver some of their education and training provision. These services were formerly contracted by Training Centres under the remit of FÁS.
In March 2017, on behalf of the contracting authorities, consisting of 15 ETBs, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) invited expressions of interest under the restricted procedure, from suitably qualified service providers for the provision of contracted training services for which it was proposed to establish multi supplier frameworks. Each ETB is a contracting authority in respect of the services it engages. SOLAS does not act as a contracting authority but assisted with the co-ordination of contracting arrangements and engagement with the OGP. The competition was initiated in consideration of the completion of the term of the previous contracting arrangements.
Conducted by the OGP on behalf of the contracting authorities, the competition was run in accordance with the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities’ Contracts) Regulations 2016 (as amended). The competition is complete and each contracting authority is at varying stages of engagement with framework contractors.
In light of the above, I have asked SOLAS to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the information sought, to confirm what is available and to make arrangements to furnish it directly.