Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

This is my second time before this committee. I thank members for their collaboration thus far but I do not think we will be quite as quick as we were the last time.

Vote 39 covers the Office of Government Procurement, OGP. Procurement is a key element of the Government’s public service reform agenda. The State procures goods, services and works costing in the region of €18.5 billion each year. In this context, it is essential that the public service operates in a co-ordinated and efficient way and delivers Government’s objectives, enabling better, sustainable and more transparent public procurement. An Estimate of €21.1 million in 2025 will allow the office to continue to: support clients in availing of central solutions; develop and implement a roadmap towards a national public procurement strategy; manage and maintain the national procurement platform, eTenders; lead on the development and delivery of a public service strategy for the digitalisation of public procurement processes; and continue to enhance the supports to promote SME access to public procurement. The delivery of value for money, transparency and accountability through greater and more consistent usage of centralised procurement arrangements remains the OGP’s core area of focus. The OGP is also in the process of delivering of the State’s first ever national public procurement strategy.

Vote 43 is for the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO. The OGCIO drives the Government’s digital agenda across the public service. Working collaboratively, it develops and delivers pan-public service digital platforms, making Ireland an exemplar in the delivery of high quality digital public services. In addition, it provides a suite of common applications, services and supports to Government Departments and agencies under its build to share initiative and is currently in the process of engaging with prospective client public bodies that seek to on-board during 2025. The Estimate for the OGCIO in gross terms in 2025 is €57.7 million, a 9% increase on 2024. The main driver of the increase in 2025 relates to a €5 million allocation to support the development of the Government data centre. This includes a proposed allocation of €10.5 million for the digital transformation fund. This fund will allow the OGCIO and the public service transformation team in my Department to increase the focus on delivery of citizen-facing digital services under the life events programme. This programme will focus on assisting at scale the roll out of new digital Government solutions in line with several key strategies, including Connecting Government 2030, Better Public Services 2030 and Harnessing Digital 2030. This programme of work is focused on delivering against targets defined in the EU digital decade. I am happy to discuss this further with members but will hand back to the Minister for now.