In the first instance, the Deputy may wish to note the nature of the bodies referenced in his question. The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) are companies limited by guarantee who are in receipt of grant funding from my Department. The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a cross-border North South Implementation Body, established on foot of the Good Friday Agreement and jointly sponsored by my Department and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. The SEUPB operates under the policy direction of the North South Ministerial Council, and is headquartered in Belfast, with smaller offices in Omagh and Monaghan.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the procurement of legal services by these bodies is set out in the table below.
|
Body / Agency
|
Legal Service procured through OGP Framework
|
Details of Legal Services last procured
|
|
IPA
|
No
|
Services were procured in 2020 and 2019, when the costs were €3,801 and €1,306 respectively. Services were procured in accordance with Circular 05/13.
|
|
ESRI
|
No
|
The ESRI legal services were procured in 2012 through a competitive tender process which predated Circular 05/13. The ESRI had scheduled to tender for these services in 2020 through the OGP Framework in accordance with its procurement plan. However, this has been deferred for now as a significant part of the ESRI, the Growing Up in Ireland Study, is in the process of transferring to the CSO and the D/CEDIY. As there are complex legal issues involved, it was considered that changing provider during the transfer process would not be efficient and could result in additional costs.
|
|
SEUPB
|
No
|
SEUPB legal services were procured on 9 August 2018, and in compliance with circular 05/13, PGN 04/12 and the Programme rules for the PEACE IV and INTERREG VA Programmes.
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