Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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30. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is aware of any overspends exceeding €500,000 on projects undertaken or commissioned by his Department or by any State or semi-State body under the aegis of his Department in each of the past five years; if so, the number and extent of any such overspends, in tabular form; to outline the plans to ascertain levels of such overspends; the further plans to ensure that such information is reported to his Department in a timely fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6516/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Defence ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in purchasing and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines. The procurement of goods and services by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces is carried out in accordance with public procurement policy and national and European Union law and that expenditure is made in accordance with Public Financial procedures.

Procedures are in place in respect of defence expenditure to provide a forum for oversight and approval of expenditure proposals in excess of €300,000 plus VAT and to review them in accordance with the Public Spending Code Infrastructure Guidelines.

Specifically, a High Level Planning and Procurement Group (HLPPG), comprising of senior civil and military management of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, and an associated Working Group, meet on a monthly basis to evaluate all relevant procurement matters. Purchasing procedures in the Defence Organisation are kept under constant review to support good procurement practice, project management and good corporate governance.

There were no contract overspends exceeding €500,000 on projects in the years 2020 to 2024.