Care Direct Sues Meath County Council Over €9M Alarm Contract
The Fermanagh-based firm claims the council broke its own tender rules when it ranked them third for a personal alarm service for the elderly.
By Fiona Wallace ·
Care Direct 24/7 Ltd has launched a legal challenge against Meath County Council over the awarding of a public contract for personal alarms, a service valued at up to €9 million annually for residents over the age of 65.
The company, based in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, is contesting the decision by the council, which acts as the contracting authority for the service. The scheme is administered by the local inclusion agency Pobal and receives funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development. Care Direct states it has provided alarms under the Seniors Alert Scheme since 2012, having secured previous tenders in 2015, 2017, and 2021.
The dispute centers on a tender process initiated in June under a draft multi-party framework agreement. The framework was estimated to reach a maximum total value of €27 million over a four-year period. On September 14, Care Direct was informed that while it was classified for admission to the framework, it was ranked third and excluded from the initial contract award.
The council selected Emergency Response Ltd and Trident Associated Securities Communications Ltd as the primary providers. Care Direct argues in its court documents that the council failed to adhere to the rules of its own competition. The firm further alleges that the award was vitiated by manifest error and that the council misinterpreted the award criteria and sub-criteria applied to the tenderers.
Following the challenge, an automatic suspension of the contract award took effect under EU Remedies Regulations. On Monday, Meath County Council requested that the Commercial Court hear an early application to lift this automatic stay. Nathy Dunleavy, counsel for the council, asked the court to enter the case on the fast track commercial list.
Judge Eileen Roberts granted the request to fast-track the case. She has scheduled a hearing for later this month to consider the application to lift the stay, which would allow the council to proceed with the contract award while the legal challenge is resolved.
Source: The Irish Times
