Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Social housing construction projects, as with all publicly funded construction projects, must be competitively tendered, in accordance with the public procurement guidelines, to ensure transparency as well as value for money for the taxpayer. The Office of Government Procurement under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for implementing national policy on public procurement.

The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) is a structure that has been developed to deliver Government objectives in relation to public sector construction procurement reform and consists of a suite of best practice guidance, standard contracts and generic template documents. The CWMF is for use by contracting authorities involved in the expenditure of public funds on construction projects and related consultancy services.

With regard my Department’s approval processes, all social housing projects must be submitted by local authorities to my Department for assessment and approval. This is to ensure that projects are carefully evaluated to ensure consistency with policy, deliver the required quality and provide value for money for the tax-payer, in line with the CWMF.