Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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123. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department retains data on contracts for tender entered into by local authorities; if this data is available publicly on his Department’s website; and the regulations that are in place in relation to the publication of a register of successful tenderers and prices each year for each local authority in the State. [6042/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not collect centrally the information requested. The procurement of products or services by a local authority is a matter for the authority concerned. Issues concerning compliance with procurement legislation and guidance are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Guidelines by the National Procurement service of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform apply to all public sector bodies, including local authorities.

Under the EU Directives on public procurement, public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For contracts below these thresholds, the general requirement is that they be advertised on the national public procurement website or, depending on value, awarded on the basis of a competitive process of direct invitation to an adequate number of suitable suppliers.

Local authorities have been pro-active in achieving spend reduction and procurement efficiencies in the procurement area through the establishment of the Local Authority National Procurement Office at Kerry County Council. The local authority sector is also working closely with the Office of Government Procurement to implement the government’s Procurement Reform Programme.