Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [27017/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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My Department is required to confirm compliance with all relevant guidelines regarding procurement, and to provide details of any exceptions.

In relation to procurement the primary circular governing compliance is Circular 40/02 'Public Procurement Guidelines- revision of existing procedures for approval of certain contracts in the Central Government sector'. This Circular requires Departments to complete an Annual Report (signed off by the Accounting Officer) in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold (exclusive of VAT) which are awarded without a competitive process.

In particular, Departments are asked to detail the number and value of contracts/amounts paid in the year, which are not compliant and details should be provided as to why the contracts were not in compliance and the steps taken to remedy the situation. These Annual Reports are forwarded to the Comptroller and Auditor General by the 31st March each year.

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) have established a range of centralised procurement arrangements (Framework Agreements and Dynamic Purchasing Systems) for use by public bodies. These centralised procurement arrangements facilitate efficient and better procurement practice, optimise value-for-money, and support public bodies in meeting their obligations to consider more strategic outcomes including green, social and SME-friendly considerations.

In 2024 the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) introduced Circular 09/2024 (Reporting on the Use of Centralised Procurement Arrangements) which requires the Department and its Offices to report on their use of central procurement arrangements. To ensure the reporting requirements of the new Circular are balanced and proportionate, the provisions extend to Departments and larger spending public bodies in relation to the award of public contracts for goods and services valued over €143,000. 2024 is the first calendar year of reporting in respect of the use of Centralised Procurement.

Departments and Public bodies have until July 2025 to submit their report to the OGP.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [27035/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [27053/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together.

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) have established a range of centralised procurement arrangements (Framework Agreements and Dynamic Purchasing Systems) for use by public bodies. Where applicable, these centralised procurement arrangements facilitate efficient and better procurement practice, optimise value-for-money, and support public bodies in meeting their obligations to consider more strategic outcomes including green, social and SME-friendly considerations.

In 2024 the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) also introduced Circular 09/2024 (Reporting on the Use of Centralised Procurement Arrangements) which requires the Department and its Offices to report on their use of central procurement arrangements. To ensure the reporting requirements of the new Circular are balanced and proportionate, the provisions extend to Departments and larger spending public bodies in relation to the award of public contracts for goods and services valued over €143,000. 2024 is the first calendar year of reporting in respect of the use of Centralised Procurement and Departments and Public bodies have until July 2025 to submit their report to the OGP.

In order to provide the Deputy with the information sought on framework agreements, to the fullest extent, in respect of my Department and its Agencies, it will not be possible to do so within the time-frame specified. These details will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible over the coming days.