Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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38. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if green procurement will be incorporated into the public procurement code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16824/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Strategic public procurement can play a key role in responding to societal, environmental and economic challenges and, as such, the inclusion of strategic public policy considerations in procurement processes is a key feature of the Programme for Government.

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has been actively engaged and proactive on the issue of green procurement. In this regard the OGP developed Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. This Circular, which was published by the Department of Public expenditure and Reform, highlights the potential for Departments to deliver wider social and environmental aims through public procurement including green criteria, employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups, disability access, promoting social inclusion and social enterprises. The Circular, a commitment under the Climate Action Plan, provided a clear signal of the direction of travel.

The Circular requires Departments to incorporate relevant green procurement measures into their planning and reporting cycles. I understand that reporting arrangements are due to commence this year with each Department reporting annually on progress in relation to Green Public Procurement. The Annual Report template with an accompanying guidance note is due to be made available in 2020 by the Department of Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport.

The Circular was the latest in a series of measures following publication of the Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement in December 2018. The Information Note assists policy makers and practitioners in understanding how public procurement can be used to facilitate the advancement of wider public policy issues.

The OGP also established the cross Departmental Social Considerations Advisory Group in March 2019, bringing together officials from policy Departments with procurement practitioners to share best practice and to facilitate the process of incorporating social and environmental considerations into public procurement. In addition to the work of the Social Considerations Advisory Group, the OGP works with Government Departments, when putting new central arrangements in place, to ensure that appropriate regard is taken for sustainability criteria.

The OGP's role is to facilitate the inclusion of such environmental and social considerations in its frameworks or through the development of guidance. Ultimately, it a matter for Departments to balance the cost and benefits and any impact of service provision before making any procurement decision.

I, along with my colleagues in Government, will be considering how best to implement the commitments in the Programme for Government.