Tender Process – Response From Cobh Town Clerk

I am unable to go into specific details in relation to a particular decision to award a contract to any particular contractor. I can confirm that Cobh Town Council, and every other local authority, has to comply with public prcurement rules in relation to any contracts it does award. Where the annual value of a contract is in excess of €10,000, we are obliged to seek 3 prices before a decision is made. We are also obliged to accept the lowest tender. Following receipt and examination of prices submitted, a decision is then made, either by myself, or by the Town Manager, based on the prices submitted.

The elected members of the Council have no authority to either make that deision , or to interfere in the process. It should be noted that if an official of a local authority were to decide to award a contract to a person other than the contractor who submitted the lowest price, that official runs the risk of being held personally responsible for the loss suffered by the local authority in that case.

Regards,

Páraig Lynch,
Town Clerk,
Cobh Town Council.