Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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961. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has a designated head of procurement; if each agency or public body under his Department’s remit also has a designated head of procurement; and if so, to list those entities, along with the name or grade of the person holding that role. [33647/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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962. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff within his Department and its agencies who hold a formal procurement qualification or certification (for example, CIPS, NFQ Level 6 or higher in procurement, EU public procurement training), broken down by organisation, in tabular form. [33665/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 961 and 962 together.

My Department has a detailed procurement policy in place, which fully aligns with the guidelines produced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The Department procures a relatively small volume and value of goods and services each year, and it is Departmental policy that, wherever possible, OGP frameworks are utlised for the procurement of these goods and services. Use of these OGP framework agreements ensures both value for money and compliance with the OGP guidelines. The Department has a designated procurement officer who is at Assistant Principal level, and also has a designated contact point within the OGP for queries. This contact point provides expert advice on the available framework agreements and on other procurement processes, where required. With regard to staff with the specific qualifications outlined, my Department needs to update its skills register following the recent transfer of functions, however, I can confirm that there are five staff members with the qualifications referred to in the question.

With regard to agencies of the Department, they are independent bodies responsible for their own operational matters. Notwithstanding this, I have asked the agencies to revert with this information and it will be provided to the Deputy within ten days.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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963. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department and each agency or public body under its remit uses a formal contract management system or procurement tracking platform; to list the systems in use; and if they are centrally monitored or independently operated. [33683/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As part of my Departments Procurement Policy, and in line with guidance from the Office of Government Procurement, officials in my Department maintain a Contracts Register to monitor and report on all contracts procured with a value over €25,000 excluding VAT. This register is updated quarterly. Given the relatively small level of procurement undertaken directly by the Department, my Department does not utilise a formal contract management system or procurement tracking platform.

I have been advised by each of the bodies under the remit of my Department that local contracts registers are in place, but that no formal contracts management systems or procurement tracking platforms are utilised.