Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the contracts his Department has with a company (details supplied); if these were all open to a public tender process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28494/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAramark provide full facilities management services for three existing state owned International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres located in:
Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, Co. Clare;
Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre; Co. Cork; and
Athlone Accommodation Centre, Co. Westmeath.
These services were procured compliantly under a Request for Tender (RFT) process under which Aramark were awarded contracts on 25 November 2016. Two extensions have been provided to Aramark, until the 9 November 2022. A new RFT process will be established for state owned centres this year.
With regard to the Ukrainian Crisis specifically, Aramark was engaged by the Department on an emergency basis and at short notice to provide catering to Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine at:
The Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork, and,
The Dun Laoighaire/Rathdown local authority Temporary Rest Centre for Ukrainian BOTPs located at Ballyogan, South Dublin.
Given the large number of Ukrainian BOTPs seeking accommodation and the urgency involved, my Department was not in a position to procure the necessary contracts by advertising openly. Rather, the Department formed the view that in view of such urgency and in furtherance of the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 that it was open to my Department to rely on the exception under the applicable EU procurement Directive 2014/24 to negotiate directly without prior publication to put in place a number of short service contracts.
Two separate communications from the European Commission of 8 and 23 March 2022 which states that “Member States that need to ramp up reception capacity to provide shelter, supplies and services can make use of the rules foreseen for urgent public procurement, as was the case during the migration crisis of 2015-16 and the COVID-19 pandemic” copper fastened my Department’s view in this matter.
At this stage of the emergency response to the Ukraine Crisis, it is not clear, and it is difficult to predict, as to whether or not this need will continue to be required after six months. An RFT for catering services is intended to be conducted prior to a six-month period from the service commencement date should the catering needs for Millstreet and Ballyogan continue beyond this timeframe.
Separately, but related, my Department is being offered use of buildings and premises from religious orders, such as the Christian Brothers, and from various voluntary bodies that can be used for the accommodation of refugees. These buildings and premises require a third party facilities management service provider to be appointed to run them on the Department's behalf. Aramark are one of a number of service providers that are being utilised, under Article 32 of the Directive, to provide full facilities management service.
