Written Answers Nos. 251-267
252. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide the number and detail of the public helplines operated by his Department; whether calls are recorded on each helpline; and if not, whether he would consider recording calls for transparency and training purposes. [29999/24]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform does not operate a public helpline intended to answer general queries from the public. The department's press office is open to queries from the public but this is not a helpline. Two other areas within my department have a phone line which can be contacted by members of the public.
• The Open Data unit in my department operates a phone line where members of the public can submit any feedback, questions or comments on use of open data in Ireland. This helpline is available at +353 1 6767571 and calls are not recorded.
• As part of its dedicated service delivery team, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) operates a helpdesk which is accessible through both email and phone to support public bodies and current/potential suppliers of services (including SMEs and micro-enterprises) with any procurement queries that they may have. Any member of the public can ring the OGP helpdesk should they have a procurement query. The helpdesk is available at +353 1773 8000.
The helpdesk does not record incoming client calls. The OGP conducts rigorous internal training for their helpdesk agents who only handle telephone queries after a 6-month training period.
eTenders (www.etenders.gov.ie) is Ireland’s free-to-use national procurement portal. eTenders serves as a central facility for all contracting authorities to electronically advertise public procurement opportunities and award notices. eTenders can be used by any member of the public interested in applying for public contracts or who are currently service providers for public contracts.
While the service contract for eTenders is managed, and the platform is administered, by the OGP, the eTenders portal is provided and operated by a third party service provider as a fully hosted managed service.
As part of the managed service, a public helpline is operated by the third party provider, to assist users with technical queries regarding the portal. This helpline can be contacted by anyone who has an enquiry about the eTenders platform. The helpline is accessible at 0818 001459 (Ireland) or +353 818001459 (International)
For quality assurance purposes, all phone calls received on the helpdesk support line are recorded. Access to recordings are governed by the terms and conditions of the service contract and the relevant data protection regulations.
My department also offers support to civil servants through the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) which provides an internal Employee Assistance Programme across the Civil Service. The CSEAS is available exclusively to civil servants, who can contact the CSEAS via both phone and email.
253. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the role his Department has in monitoring the expenditure of departments on an ongoing basis through the year, making specific reference to departments substantially off profile shown in the Fiscal Monitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30042/24]
View answerPublic expenditure management and achieving value for money, within agreed Ceilings voted by Dáil Éireann, is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister.
Expenditure profiles for 2024 were completed by all Votes in February and submitted to my Department. Performance against these profiles is used in-year to monitor the expenditure position and details are published monthly in the Fiscal Monitor.
At end Quarter Two 2024, gross expenditure is €47.1 billion. This demonstrates the significant investment Government continues to provide across the public service to protect living standards, improve public services, and safeguard our future through enhanced capital investment.
This level of spending is 3.3% above projections for this period. While the majority of Vote Groups remain at or near profile, these figures demonstrate a number of developing risks that require continued and enhanced expenditure management across the remainder of the year.
In terms of areas substantially above profile in the June Fiscal Monitor, Health has an end June overspend against profile of €1 billion or 9.7% with expenditure by acute hospitals the primary driver of these pressures at this stage in the year. This is the main driving factor behind the overall overspend position and there continues to be ongoing engagement between my Department and the Department of Health in this regard.
Other areas where there are significant variations from profile at end June are in Education; Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Part of this is increased capital spending as implementation of the National Development Plan continues, with the end June position reflecting the better than expected delivery on social housing and school buildings in the year to date.
My Department stays in regular communication with these areas and all other Departments to ensure expenditure is managed within overall fiscal parameters and there are a number of processes and procedures that support this including:1. Drawdowns from the Exchequer are monitored against published profiles.
2. Key data and information in relation to voted expenditure is published monthly in the Fiscal Monitor.
3. Quarterly reporting to Government by the main spending Departments on their respective sectors also takes place alongside the overall expenditure management updates provided by my Department.
4. Regular engagement, through a number of fora, between spending Departments and my Department at senior official level.
I will continue to engage with my colleagues across Government to ensure expenditure management in the period ahead.
255. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if a plan or strategy is in place for the Office of Public Works to reduce the reliance on leased properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30044/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) Estate Management Strategy is based on five strategic pillars of: Modernisation, Optimisation, Proactive Asset Management, Sustainability, and Building on Data and Research.
The OPW has a significant and diverse office accommodation portfolio distributed throughout the country, comprising of 866,896 square meters, including a range of differing types of office provision from brand new grade A office accommodation to prestige heritage buildings. Approximately 60% of this accommodation is provided in State owned accommodation across 259 buildings. As of April 2024, the leased office portfolio comprised of 327 leases in 267 buildings.
The issue of whether to buy, build or lease properties is a complex matter and is subject to a number of variables, including: the availability of capital funding; the availability of suitable buildings or sites; the prevailing market conditions at the time; the urgency and scale attached to the accommodation request; and the duration of the requirement.
To meet its strategic objectives of modernising the estate and making it more efficient, the OPW constantly looks to appraise the potential of the existing owned accommodation portfolio for future redevelopment of sites, refurbishment opportunities and potential asset recycling prospects. This is done in parallel and in conjunction with ongoing appraisal, monitoring and managing of opportunities which arise from within the leasehold estate, including the exploration of possible purchase opportunities.
Due to the range of accommodation requirements across Government, it is important to keep a dynamic portfolio that has flexibility to meet the evolving long term needs of Government. The OPW’s preference is that functions of infrastructural importance or viewed as a long-term commitment should, where possible, be accommodated in State owned properties. However it is important to understand that leasehold properties provide flexibility for shorter periods of time, which can often accommodate agencies and staff engaged in time-limited functions. Leasehold properties also provide the flexibility to reduce the size of the portfolio should circumstances require it. More recently, leasehold properties that were no longer required by Departments as a result of blended working has enabled growth in civil service numbers to be absorbed within the existing property portfolio. This has also enabled the OPW meet the additional requirements of those Departments who have been directly affected by international events over the last couple of years.
The OPW continues to assess potential value for money opportunities for investment that align to the OPW Strategy and wider government policy including the National Development Plan and Climate Action Plan.
256. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on any work by the Office of Government Procurement to promote the recruitment of apprentices through the use of social clauses in public procurement contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30045/24]
View answerLast year, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) published an information note on Apprenticeships and Public Procurement which can be accessed via the below link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/8b008-apprenticeships-and-public-procurement/.
This information note, developed in collaboration with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, provides information for public bodies on the inclusion of apprenticeship provisions within public-sector tendering processes. My Department continues to be proactive in promoting the use of strategic public procurement, including sustainable considerations, by contracting authorities. In January, the OGP published Opportunities and Approaches for Sustainable Public Procurement. This document, which can be accessed via the below link, acts as a reference for public procurement practitioners and policy makers and outlines the opportunities and possible approaches that can be taken for Sustainable Public Procurement.
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/279165/3f3e1722-9ff3-41a5-864d-1a0f783a24eb.pdf#page=null.
257. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the income he has allocated to Enterprise Ireland to ensure that Irish businesses have sufficient financial supports available under the Brexit adjustment initiative to assist and prepare for the new UK import rules imposed on Irish and EU exports since January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29741/24]
View answer290. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what supports are available to Irish businesses under the Brexit adjustment initiative to assist in challenges presented by the new UK import rules imposed on Irish and EU exports since January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29807/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 290 together.
The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) was established in 2021, by the EU, to support Member States in managing the impacts of Brexit.
Ireland, as the country clearly most affected by Brexit, was awarded the largest share, 20% of the entire fund.
In 2023, there was €15 million allocated to Enterprise Ireland (EI) for disbursal to indigenous companies to assist with eligible costs due as a result of Brexit. The BAR eligibility period for expenditure ran from the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2023.
The BAR regulations stated that spending on projects for inclusion in the BAR claim had to be paid before the end of the year, but the Commission also advised that projects had to be completed by the time of the submission of the Irish claim in September 2024.
The BAR regulations were published in October 2021, almost midway through the 4-year eligibility period. This meant that all Departments had to look back at their past Brexit expenditure to identify spending on business support schemes and infrastructure projects, that could meet the BAR eligibility criteria.
Enterprise Ireland designed a range of supports on behalf of my Department, which were designed, developed and launched to provide assistance to Irish enterprises to deal with potentially one of the most disruptive events to ever happen within Irish international trade.
The targeted offers launched or administered by Enterprise Ireland included:
• Be Prepared: Grants of up to €5,000 provided to Enterprise Ireland (EI) client companies to help them to assess the impact of Brexit on their business and prepare an action plan.
• Border Enterprise Development Fund: Provided support for collaborative, enterprise capability building projects, to advance entrepreneurship, productivity, and innovation in the Border Region. The aim of the fund is to improve the international competitiveness of enterprise in the Border Region in the context of Brexit and other market challenges, which now also include COVID-19.
• Capital Investment Scheme Agricultural Products: The scheme will assist companies to strengthen their operational capability and pursue product and market diversification strategies and will support the long-term future of our vital agrifood sector.
• Clear Customs Financial Support Grant: This offered essential customs training & support to those businesses most likely to be affected following Brexit. Any eligible business (Irish exporters & importers, customs agents and intermediaries) could use the Clear Customs Initiative to get their business ready for customs after Brexit.
• Evolve Strategic Planning: The maximum grant available is €5,000 or 80% of eligible expenditure. With the Evolve Strategic Planning Grant, Enterprise Ireland can help companies to prepare for future business disruption by covering the cost of developing a strategic response plan.
• Market Discovery Fund: The opportunities that arise from entering a new international market, as well as impending Brexit challenges, mean that diversification is more important than ever for Irish businesses. A streamlined application process makes it easy for companies to access funding of up to €150,000 to help them take the first step into new markets and make their global ambitions a reality.
• Ready for Customs: The grant, which was administered by Enterprise Ireland, provides up to €9,000 for each new employee hired into a customs role. The grant is flexible and allows businesses to claim for redeployed and part-time staff.
258. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rates of payment to businesses of the increased cost of business grant per local authority to date; the number of registered businesses and premises per local authority; if he is concerned with the pace of payment processing in any local authority; if his Department has contacted any such local authorities to convey this concern; the reasons that have been provided by the respective local authorities to explain any such delays; if he will attribute any such explanation to the respective local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29085/24]
View answerAs you know, the Local Authorities are administering the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme on behalf of my Department. Up to Friday 5th July, 81,241 businesses have registered for the ICOB scheme. and almost €122 million has been paid out to 58,722 eligible business owners. The Local Authorities are making payments to businesses once their information is verified.
Variances can happen in Local Authorities due to various factors but it is important to note that Local authorities are striving to validate and approve payments to businesses as quickly as possible, while ensuring adherence to their financial and governance processes, which include rigorous checking of bank details.
Individual follow-ups are necessary for numerous businesses due to the quality of the provided information, including bank and property details. Local authorities aim to ensure that as many businesses as possible receive the grant, so they are contacting these businesses individually.
My Department is in close contact with the Local Government Management Agency and the Local Authorities regarding the implementation of this scheme and I have written directly to each Chief Executive of the Local Authorities to emphasise the importance of getting these payments to businesses.
The figures you requested are as at 5th July:
|
Local Authority |
Registrations |
Properties |
Approvals |
Paid |
Value of Payments |
|
Carlow County Council |
1,009 |
1,169 |
1,080 |
1080 |
€2,138,692 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1,227 |
1,372 |
1,125 |
1125 |
€1,541,378 |
|
Clare County Council |
2,057 |
2,464 |
1,841 |
1376 |
€2,551,508 |
|
Cork City Council |
4,097 |
4,418 |
3,530 |
3530 |
€9,018,693 |
|
Cork County Council |
5,593 |
6,090 |
3,992 |
3863 |
€7,100,425 |
|
Donegal County Council |
2,479 |
2,865 |
2,090 |
2090 |
€3,658,133 |
|
Dublin City Council |
7,978 |
8,755 |
6,773 |
5057 |
€13,858,906 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
2,675 |
2,807 |
2,192 |
2152 |
€6,241,318 |
|
Fingal County Council |
3,036 |
3,251 |
2,476 |
2037 |
€4,948,296 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,944 |
2,130 |
1,995 |
1978 |
€4,778,062 |
|
Galway County Council |
1,944 |
2,226 |
1,956 |
1890 |
€3,439,445 |
|
Kerry County Council |
2,605 |
2,827 |
1,494 |
1485 |
€3,151,968 |
|
Kildare County Council |
3,174 |
3,279 |
3,037 |
3036 |
€6,114,478 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
1,494 |
1,704 |
1,542 |
1542 |
€2,663,753 |
|
Laois County Council |
962 |
1,072 |
718 |
701 |
€1,405,252 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
493 |
548 |
451 |
445 |
€613,689 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
3,151 |
4,024 |
3,378 |
3253 |
€6,484,915 |
|
Longford County Council |
788 |
939 |
855 |
855 |
€1,287,582 |
|
Louth County Council |
2,044 |
2,509 |
1,604 |
1604 |
€3,188,120 |
|
Mayo County Council |
2,625 |
2,793 |
1,470 |
1470 |
€3,014,293 |
|
Meath County Council |
2,574 |
2,733 |
1,546 |
1448 |
€2,679,261 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1,260 |
1,469 |
1,316 |
1316 |
€1,932,909 |
|
Offaly County Council |
1,046 |
1,192 |
982 |
982 |
€1,536,172 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
1,066 |
1,102 |
1,012 |
1012 |
€1,510,512 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1,041 |
1,147 |
1,018 |
1018 |
€1,794,349 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
3,102 |
3,721 |
2,270 |
2268 |
€6,602,533 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
2,597 |
3,129 |
1,749 |
1571 |
€2,534,516 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
2,149 |
2,454 |
2,045 |
2041 |
€4,126,016 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1,437 |
1,627 |
1,578 |
1578 |
€2,685,173 |
|
Wexford County Council |
2,736 |
2,962 |
2,841 |
2838 |
€5,386,853 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
2,143 |
2,463 |
2,108 |
2081 |
€3,792,753 |
|
Totals |
72,526 |
81,241 |
62,064 |
58,722 |
€121,779,952 |
259. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to address concerns raised regarding the removal of the proposal to link the future wage for security guards to the national minimum wage in the new Employment Regulation Order for the sector. [29110/24]
View answerMinister Higgins approved the new ERO for the Security Industry on 13 June 2024 and it commenced on 1 July 2024. It is currently available on S.I. No. 319/2024 - Employment Regulation Order (Security Industry Joint Labour Committee) 2024 (irishstatutebook.ie).
Under legislation the statutory role of the Minister in the ERO process is clearly defined. As soon as practicable after receiving a copy of the proposals from the Labour Court, where she is satisfied that Sections 42A and 42B of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 have been complied with, and where she considers it appropriate to do so, she will make an Employment Regulation Order giving effect to the proposals; or should the Minister refuse to make such an Order, she must notify the Court as to the reasons why.
The terms and conditions contained in an Employment Regulation Order are independently negotiated at the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee by representatives of workers and employers and sent to the Minister for approval by the Labour Court. Minister Higgins received the recommendation for this ERO from the Labour Court on 4th June 2024.
260. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the proposals from the European Commission to cut and modulate regulatory data protection intellectual property rights in the EU as part of the revision to the General Pharmaceutical Revision; his views on the potential impacts of these proposals on investment, innovation and employment in the life sciences sector in Ireland and the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29114/24]
View answer261. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the decision of Ireland, at the EPSCO Council on 21 June, to indicate support for proposals to cut and modulate regulatory data protection intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical companies; his views on the potential impacts of this position on investment, innovation and employment in the life sciences sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29115/24]
View answer263. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on proposals from the European Commission to cut and modulate regulatory data protection intellectual property rights in the European Union as part of the revision to the general pharmaceutical revision; his views, in particular, on the potential impacts of these proposals on investment, innovation and employment in the life sciences sector in Ireland and the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29171/24]
View answer264. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the decision of Ireland, at the EPSCO Council on 21 June, to indicate support for proposals to cut and modulate regulatory data protection intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical companies; his views, in particular, on the potential impacts of this position on investment, innovation and employment in the life sciences sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29172/24]
View answer268. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views in relation to the proposals from the European Commission to cut and modulate regulatory data protection intellectual property rights in the European Union as part of the revision to the general pharmaceutical revision; his views, in particular, on the potential impacts of this proposal on investment, innovation and employment in the life sciences sector in Ireland and the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29263/24]
View answer269. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the decision of Ireland to support, at the EPSCO (Health) Council on 21 June, proposals from the European Commission to cut and modulate regulatory data protection intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical companies; his views, in particular, on the potential impacts of this position on investment, innovation and employment in the life sciences sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29264/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261, 263, 264, 268 and 269 together.
On 26 April 2023 the European Commission published a proposal to revise and replace the existing general pharmaceutical legislation. The EU Pharmaceutical legislative package proposes a suite of measures with the purpose of assuring the quality and safety of medicines and ensuring their availability to health services across the EU. As such, the Department of Health is leading on this file in Ireland.
The EU Proposal includes elements in relation to Regulatory Data Protection which is distinct from traditional intellectual property rights as it offers additional protection specifically targeted at the data required for regulatory approval and concerns the timelines regarding generic drug manufacturers accessing the clinical trial data of an original drug manufacturer during which a temporary market exclusivity for the original manufacturer exists.
From an enterprise perspective, industry concerns on this element of the overall package are clearly understood across Government and are taken into account when formulating the Irish contributions to the negotiations at EU level. Government remains very conscious of the importance of retaining a competitive pharmaceutical industry in the EU and in Ireland and the Government’s position on the EU Pharmaceutical Package remains that we are seeking to find the right balance to address three key objectives:
• Retention of a strong, innovative, pharmaceutical sector,
• Access to safe and effective medicines for patients, and
• Sustainability of national health systems.
Specifically, with regards to the Commission’s proposals on regulatory data protection (RDP), Ireland’s position remains that we see merit in the intention underlying these proposals which is to address current inequities in market access to medicines across Europe – an issue we face here in Ireland. However, Government is also clear that any approach to address such inequities must also support the competitiveness of Europe’s pharma ecosystem. In this regard, Ireland’s position in the negotiations on the Package is that pharmaceutical companies who meet the needs of health systems must be rewarded for doing so; with their innovative investments in the EU fully recognised.
The negotiations on the Pharmaceutical Package are complex and are likely to continue for a considerable period of time and the negotiations are continuing to evolve under the Hungarian Presidency. The outcome will be of vital importance to patients, national health systems and to our pharmaceutical industry for many years to come, and, therefore, Ireland will strive towards the best possible outcome that delivers a balanced and predictable approach and is faithful to all three of our key objectives, summarised above.
To date, there has been extensive engagement with stakeholders, including industry representatives and individual companies, as well as between relevant Government Departments and Agencies. This will continue as the negotiations proceed led by the Department of Health in close cooperation with my own Department.
262. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of a case (details supplied); if, given the facts of this case and the details of the Hague Convention on prevention of international child kidnapping 1980, he will suspend trade cooperation between Ireland and Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29155/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, trade policy is an exclusive competence of the European Union, under Article 207 of the Functioning of the European Union, generally referred to as the common commercial policy. Trade relations with Egypt are governed by the EU-Egypt Association Agreement which creates a free-trade area between the EU and Egypt. Negotiations with Egypt on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade area are currently on hold.
I am advised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that his Department is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. A senior official has been appointed as the citizen’s dedicated case manager and is in very regular contact with them.
I further understand that the Tánaiste has met with the citizen to discuss their case and that he has raised their case on a number of occasions with his counterpart in the relevant jurisdiction, most recently in April of this year.
Additionally, there has been sustained engagement at a local level with the relevant authorities. Embassy officials, including the Ambassador, have regularly engaged with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other missions to gather advice and expertise on how best to support the Irish citizen.
I fully appreciate that the circumstances of this case are difficult for all concerned. The country in question is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. As a result, in cases of dispute or unlawful removal, there is no international system in place providing a practical mechanism for the return of children from that State to Ireland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs cannot interfere in legal or custodial matters in another jurisdiction, but will continue to provide consular assistance where possible and appropriate.
265. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the new employment regulation order for workers in the security sector has been signed; if so, when it was signed; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29216/24]
View answerMinister Higgins approved the new ERO for the Security Industry on 13 June 2024 and it commenced on 1 July 2024. It is currently available to the public on the Department’s website:
SI No 319 of 2024 Employment Regulation Order (Security Industry Joint Labour Committee) 2024 - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
266. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times an organisation (details supplied) has been in the Labour Court to settle disputes with staff groups since 2015; and the amount of time the Labour Court has dedicated to the organisation's disputes with its various staff groups, per year, since 2015, in tabular form. [29217/24]
View answerThe Labour Court is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department. The Court was first established under the Industrial Relations Act, 1946. Since the enactment of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, the Labour Court holds sole appellate jurisdiction in all disputes arising under employment rights enactments. This sole appellate role is in addition to those functions held by the Court under the Industrial Relations Acts prior to the enactment of the Workplace Relations Act 2015.
The Labour Court provides a confidential service to parties engaged in trade disputes and therefore does not detail its work with individual parties in the provision of that service.
I understand that where the Court makes a recommendation in a trade dispute, that recommendation is available on the website of the Court.
267. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the awards made, both with and without a tender process, to management consultancy firms by his Department, and bodies under the aegis of his Department, classed by firm, for each of the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output, [29229/24]
View answerMy Department operates a devolved procurement function whereby each business unit and Office of the Department is responsible for the procurement of their own goods, services and related contracts, with corporate oversight via a Procurement Co-ordination Unit, headed at Principal Officer level.
The Offices of the Department include the Companies Registration Office (which incorporates the Registry of Friendly Societies and the Register of Beneficial Owners), the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission.
With regard to awards made without holding a tender process, as the Deputy may be aware, under the terms of the Department of Finance Circular 40/2002, my Department, including the Offices, is required to provide an annual report to the Comptroller and Auditor General providing details of any contracts for goods or services valued at €25,000 or more (excluding VAT) that were awarded without first holding a competitive process i.e. obtaining quotations or advertising on eTenders, the Irish Government’s electronic tendering platform administered by the Office of Government Procurement.
In order to provide the Deputy with the information sought to the fullest extent it will not be possible to provide the details requested within the time-frame specified. These details will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible over the coming days.
Procurement and contracts entered into by the Agencies of my Department are a day-to-day matter for the Board and Chief Executive Officers of the Agencies, and also subject to annual examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
