Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the value of contracts for which local authorities can tender; and the value of contracts for which local authorities can tender without central scrutiny. [46307/18]

Paschal 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 is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established to lead on the implementation of the Government’s Public Procurement Reform programme. The OGP has responsibility for developing and setting out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland. This framework enables a more consistent, co-ordinated approach to public procurement across the public sector. The OGP and its sector partners in Health, Education, Defence and Local Government put in place compliant procurement solutions to leverage the State’s spending power. The OGP actively engages with their public sector clients, including the Local Government Sector, with the procurement solutions available.

The procedures for public bodies, including the Local Authority Sector, when tendering for goods and services, above and below the EU Thresholds, are set out in the Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services published by the OGP.

I should point out that Local Authorities like all Contracting Authorities are responsible for adhering to the procurement policy framework and for the individual procurement decisions they make. In terms of adopting a consistent approach to public procurement, I understand that the Local Government Management Agency provides advice and assistance to Local Authorities regarding national and EU procurement regulations and contract management issues affecting their activities and monitors legislative and case law developments to ensure its processes remain current in light of these developments and other best practice initiatives. In this regard, the Local Government Audit Service (LGAS) audits the accounts and provides independent scrutiny of the financial stewardship of local authorities and other local bodies.