Departmental Contracts

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Ceisteanna (3489)

Aidan Farrelly

Ceist:

3489. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the value and duration of contracts and service provision arrangements his Department and all bodies under his aegis have or had with a company (details supplied) in the past ten years to date in 2026; if he will clarify whether his Department was the beneficiary of professional work or services from the company over that same period; and the nature and value of same. [24570/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

My Department was established in 2017. I can confirm that my Department has engaged the services of the company listed to provide catering services on four occasions. These were one-off services and I can confirm my Department does not hold a contract with the company.

There are eight agencies under the remit of my Department: An Coimisinéir Teanga, the Charities Regulator, Foras na Gaeilge, Pobal, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Ulster-Scots Agency, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. They all are independent legal entities responsible for their own operational matters.

Nonetheless, I am advised that Foras na Gaeilge, Pobal and Water Safety Ireland have engaged the company for catering services on a limited, ad-hoc basis as detailed below. The Ulster-Scots Agency is the only body which has held contracts with company, for cleaning and catering services.

The details requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department and the bodies under its aegis, are set out in the tables below. Figures are inclusive of VAT where applicable.

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

Year	Costs	Details
2025	€375	Catering service for a meeting with Volunteering stakeholders
2023	€283	Catering services received at a PPN meeting
2023	€185	Catering service for a meeting with Volunteering stakeholders
2023	€951	Catering service for a meeting with Volunteering stakeholders

Agencies under the remit of the Department

Agency	Year	Cost	Details
Water Safety Ireland	2024	€764	Catering provided for a Life Saving Sport Event
Pobal	2023	€316	Catering provided at meeting
Pobal	2018	€495	Catering provided at training event
Pobal	2018	€1,600	Catering provided at team meeting
Pobal	2017	€391	Catering provided at training event
Foras na Gaeilge	2017	€387	Catering services for a launch event
Ulster-Scots Agency	2020 – date	£73,624	Cleaning services contract
Ulster-Scots Agency	2023 – 2025	£6,674	Catering providers