Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

There were different issues with each of them. Those have been identified and they have indicated a willingness to address it.

There are different reasons for procurement practices not having been implemented. For example, there can be a need to roll over procurement and a gap in the availability of a service if that is not identified early enough. This is not satisfactory and has to be addressed. There can be waiting involved. We have many new central procurement arrangements, which are beginning to work well with the Office of Government Procurement, which the Accounting Officer of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has discussed with the committee. In this context, the education sector is taking the lead in a number of areas. Implementation can take a while for the new frameworks to be put in place in the structures. Sometimes, an institution must roll over a contract and wait. That is more understandable, but it would also be better were it not to be the case. It has taken place as we have worked to put in place a new system. In other instances, institutes have not appropriately tendered. That is not acceptable.