Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

367. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the statement by the accounting officer of his Department before the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts on 10 July 2025 (details supplied), the precise methodology used by his Department or the Office of Government Procurement to calculate this €18.5 billion figure; whether the estimate refers to the total value of contracts awarded through procurement competitions or the actual annual expenditure incurred on those contracts; whether his Department will provide verified figures for the amount spent each year through public procurement processes, rather than only an estimate; and if only an estimated figure is available, whether steps are being taken to move towards publishing actual expenditure data on procurement in a comprehensive and systematic way. [48265/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

368. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the accounting officer's statement before the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts on 10 July 2025, that public procurement now accounts for an estimated €18.5 billion annually (details supplied), if he will provide the equivalent annual estimate for the total value of public procurement competitions for each of the past ten years; and the methodology changes used over that period. [48266/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together.

The Deputy should note that the figure of €18.5 billion referenced in the Accounting Officer’s opening statement before the Committee of Public Accounts on 10 July 2025 is an estimate only. This estimate is derived from contract notice data published on the national public procurement platform, eTenders, which is managed by my Department. However, the responsibility for the veracity of the data lies solely with each contracting authority. Contracting authorities publish their calls for tender on this platform, and each contract notice includes an estimated value. The methodology used to arrive at the €18.5 billion figure is a straightforward summation of these estimated values across all contract notices published during that relevant period.

It is important to clarify that this figure represents the proposed estimated annual spend by contracting authorities for that specific requirement (works / good or service). It does not reflect the actual value of contracts awarded or spend. My Department does not hold, nor is it in a position to centrally report on, verified expenditure at the individual contract level. This data resides with each contracting authority. Individual accounting officers are accountable for all procurement expenditure under their remit.

My officials are working towards finalising multi-annual contract notice data for publication on the Open Data Portal, however this remains a work in progress and is not available at this time in the format requested by the Deputy.

The Public Procurement Advisory Council (PPAC) was established in 2024 to advise on the development of public procurement across the public sector. The PPAC focuses on six priority areas of which one of the key areas is addressing the improvement in data analytics and assisting with evidence-based policy and providing for transparency of public procurement. There are three subgroups which support the work of the PPAC, of which the Data Analytics Working Group is tasked with assisting the PPAC in the alignment of data requirements to facilitate monitoring and examine the potential to leverage the information generally maintained in Contract Registers as an aid to public procurement data analysis. This work is ongoing.

The work of the Data Analytics Working Group will be cognisant of, and endeavour to be grounded in, trusted reliable data sources, data ontologies, existing reporting requirements, strategies and initiatives at EU, national and sectoral levels that may have implications for, or relevance to the work of the Council.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

369. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department or the Office of Government Procurement maintain estimates of public procurement expenditure by major category, such as works, goods and services; if so, to provide figures showing the relative breakdown by category, for each of the past ten years; and if he will identify the categories that have shown the fastest growth. [48267/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, one of My Department’s key responsibilities is to develop expenditure policy in line with Government objectives and agreed fiscal policy over the medium term. This involves working with individual departments and ministers to promote a planned and deliberate approach to public spending that is in line with the annual budgetary parameters and focused on delivering economic and social progress.

The Department monitors ongoing expenditure throughout the year and engages with individual departments in relation to policy proposals with expenditure requirements. As part of the whole-of-year budgetary process Officials in my Department report on a monthly basis Vote level expenditure against profile. The Department also engages in consultation with stakeholders through processes such as the National Economic Dialogue and sets out the general expenditure parameters for the budget ahead through its involvement in the Summer Economic Statement.

Capital allocations are agreed on a multi-year basis through the National Development Plan process. Multi-year allocations mean that departments can appropriately plan for major public investment projects that typically involve complex planning processes- or detailed policy design.

This Department works with other line departments in the context of the whole-of-year budget process. This culminates in expenditure allocations being agreed by the Dáil as part of the annual Estimates process. Individual ministers can distribute the allocation of these resources across their Votes to deliver on Government priorities and maximise the impact of public investment. Management of the public funds’ allocation remains, by law, the responsibility of the relevant accounting officer.

The Department provides a range of tools to assist with the responsible management of public funds. These include the Public Financial Procedures, Infrastructure Guidelines, procurement guidelines and expert project review for new proposals for IT expenditure and major capital projects. My Department, through the OGP Division which operates as a central procurement body, puts in place central arrangements for commonly required goods and services.