Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide a list of all framework agreements currently in place under the remit of the Office of Government Procurement or associated central purchasing bodies (details supplied); and if that data is not held centrally, to indicate how such drawdown activity is tracked. [27012/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if framework-based procurement is included in his Department’s reporting of “tendered” procurement in its annual accounts; if so, to distinguish between contracts awarded via framework mini-competition, contracts awarded via direct drawdown from a framework without competition and frameworks run independently by his Department versus those centrally established by the Office of Government Procurement; and to provide the value of procurement for each such category in the past three years. [27025/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my own Department prepares its Annual Appropriation Accounts in line with Circulars as issued by the Government Accounting Unit in my Department each year and adheres to the accounting policies outlined in same. The Appropriation Accounts are prepared in accordance with the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, as amended by the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993. Currently, there is no requirement to report tendered procurements within the accounts. However, in line with Circular 40/02, the number of contracts above a €25,000 threshold (exclusive of VAT) awarded without a competitive process are disclosed within the Statement of Internal Financial Control, noting of course that such non-competitive contracts may still comply with public procurement rules and regulations.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide a list of all framework agreements used by his Department or its agencies since 2022, by name and description of framework; if it was established by his Department, the OGP, or another central/sectoral body; if it is a single-supplier or multi-supplier framework; if drawdowns required mini-competitions; and the total number of contracts and aggregate value of payments made under each framework agreement, by year. [27043/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all drawdowns from frameworks by his Department or its agencies from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024, valued over €25,000 were accompanied by publication of a contract award notice on the eTenders portal as required by Circular 05/2023; and if not, to list any known contracts where such publication did not occur and the reason. [27061/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide, a breakdown equivalent to Table 2.6 of the OECD report "Procurement for Better Value - A Case Study of Ireland" for each year from 2019 to 2024, by each portfolio (details supplied); if data for earlier years is not available in this structure, to provide the most complete available equivalent and note any limitations. [27072/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to list the top ten frameworks by spend under direct drawdown in 2023 and 2024, showing for each, the framework name, the total drawdown value; and the percentage of total direct-drawdown expenditure it represents. [27073/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide details of any value-for-money reviews, savings validations or performance benchmarks completed on each portfolio in the past four years; the headline savings achieved; the key performance indicators used; and the steps taken where frameworks underperformed targets.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27074/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), an office within my Department, has responsibility for public procurement policy and 11 master categories of expenditure for commonly required goods and services; goods and services that all Departments and Agencies require in the course of their work.

The OGP continually engages with the large spending Departments and Agencies seeking their input on solutions to address the needs of public bodies for national-level central procurement arrangements.

Across these categories the OGP has established 95 central procurement arrangements. These central solutions enable a consistent approach to public procurement across the public sector to deliver value for money for the taxpayer. These procurement solutions aggregate the State’s expenditure, deliver value for money, and provide process efficiencies for public services bodies and economic operators as well managing risk. The design of central procurement solutions also provide for the inclusion of Government horizontal policy considerations, including green procurement, supports for the Circular economy, SME access to procurement, and the inclusion of social considerations. The use of central procurement solutions is Government policy.

Portfolios conduct a number of reviews to ensure a solution can promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory procurement process which delivers value for money. These reviews include an examination of any current arrangement, pre-market engagements including supplier/market analysis, policy reviews and engagement with key departments and agencies on their needs. Value for money also involves integrating Government’s horizontal policy objectives ensuring for example, the inclusion of environmental and/or social criteria, which must be related to the subject matter of the contract, being proportionate and non-discriminatory.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to indicate any planned additions, consolidations or retirements of framework categories over the next 12-18 months; and the rationale for each proposed change. [27075/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and national rules and guidelines with the aim of promoting an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), an office within my Department, has responsibility for 11 master categories of expenditure for commonly required goods and services; goods and services that all Departments and Agencies require in the course of their work.

Across these categories the OGP has established 95 central procurement arrangements. These central solutions enable a consistent approach to public procurement across the public sector to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

The OGP continually engages with the large spending Departments and Agencies seeking their input on solutions to address the needs of public bodies for national-level central procurement arrangements. Existing central solutions are also monitored during their lifetime to ensure the specific provisions of those arrangements are met.

In advance of any planned additions, consolidations or retirements, or the publication of a competition for the establishment of a central solution, the OGP will conduct a number of reviews to ensure a solution can promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory procurement process which delivers best value for money. These reviews include an examination of any current arrangement, pre-market engagements including supplier/market analysis, policy reviews and engagement with key departments and agencies on their needs.

The OGP also publishes Central Arrangements Renewal Schedule on a quarterly basis for public sector bodies, which indicates the new central solutions which will be available in the coming 12 months.

Please see attachment for OGP central arrangements renewal schedule 2025/2026.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to confirm the expected publication dates for the next Public Procurement Annual Report. [27076/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In common with other Departments and Offices, my Department publishes an annual report outlining the main developments across the Department during the year to advance the objectives set out in its Statement of Strategy.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is part of my Department and is comprised of two Divisions. The Sourcing and Professional Practice Division is responsible for providing a range of compliant value-for-money procurement solutions, which incorporate Government’s policy objectives and are designed to support public service clients in delivering services to the public. The Division is also responsible for the development and delivery of a programme of supports to improve professional procurement and commercial standards and capability across the Public Service. The Public Procurement Policy, Service Delivery and Digitalisation Division is responsible the development of Government’s procurement policy framework, for client delivery and for developing and implementing a digital strategy to support the end to end tendering process. Details of the OGP's public procurement activities across these areas will be included in my Department's overall Annual Report for 2024, which will be published in the coming weeks. I am not intending to publish a separate standalone Public Procurement Annual Report.