Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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99. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the procurement and tendering processes for the construction of major projects such as the new National Maternity Hospital. [26208/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To create a level playing field for all businesses across Europe, EU law sets out minimum harmonised public procurement rules. These rules govern the way public authorities and certain utility operators purchase goods, works and services. The public procurement of works related services is governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and transposed into Irish Law in 2016 by way of a national Regulation (S.I. No. 284 of 2016).

The National Public Procurement Policy Framework sets out the procurement procedures to be followed by Government Departments and State Bodies under these national and EU rules.

The National Public Procurement Policy Framework consists of 5 strands:

- Legislation (Directives, Regulations)

- Government Policy (for example: Circulars)

- Capital Works Management Framework for Public Works

- General Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services

- More detailed technical guidelines, template documentation and information notes as issued periodically by the Office of Government Procurement

Separate policy and guidance relating to works and works related services is published on the Construction Procurement Reform website (constructionprocurement.gov.ie) where the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) provides a suite of best practice, standard contracts and template documents.

The public works contract and the standard conditions of engagement (for works-related consultancy) are key components of the CWMF. In addition to forms of contract, the CWMF also contains template documents for the prequalification and tender stages of the procurement process as well as extensive guidance material in relation to the management of public works and services contracts.

The CWMF is designed to support the Public Spending Code and is used to support the development of capital infrastructure proposals such as that for the new National Maternity Hospital.