Written answers

Thursday, 8 November 2018

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Public Procurement Contracts

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of employing one specialist procurement officer annually with the relevant and necessary qualifications and experience. [46306/18]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.

Individual public bodies and contracting authorities are responsible for establishing arrangements for ensuring the proper conduct of their affairs, including conformance to standards of good governance and accountability with regard to procurement.

Circular 40/02: Public Procurement Guidelines – Revision of existing procedures - states that each Department/Office should designate a Procurement Officer who should hold responsibility for collating information on contracts awarded without a competitive process. Public bodies and contracting authorities are free to assign the role as they see fit but they should satisfy themselves that the designated officer has the appropriate level of authority to ensure that the role and responsibilities can be fulfilled correctly.

The OGP is currently drafting an information note on the role and responsibilities of a procurement officer to assist public bodies in this regard.

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