Government skips tendering process to award contracts catering for Ukrainian refugees

The contracts have been awarded to Aramark, who previously held contracts at different Direct Provision centres

Alesiy, 10, looks out of a bus at the city of Bashtanka, as she and her family escape from the Kherson district of Ukraine on Thursday. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman told TDs that the traditional procurement process had been "short-circuited" due to the crisis nature of providing services. Photo: AP/Petros Giannakouris

A leading provider of Direct Provision services has been handed State contracts for catering for Ukrainian refugees without a tendering process, the Dáil has been told.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman told TDs that the traditional procurement process had been "short-circuited" due to the crisis nature of providing services.