Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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662. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all contracting authorities under the aegis of his Department are in full compliance with Circular 05/2023, in particular the mandatory requirement to publish contract award notices for all contracts above €25,000; and if he will provide details of the monitoring or enforcement arrangements in place to ensure this requirement is met. [55083/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

Details relating to these agencies is outlined below:

Citizens Information Board (CIB)

The CIB confirms that it is in full compliance with Circular 05/2023, Initiatives to Assist SMEs in Public Procurement, including the mandatory requirement to publish all Contract Award Notices for contracts over €25,000 on the e-Tenders platform. The CIB have internal processes and procedures in place to ensure this requirement is met, including tender process checklists for all tenders over €25,000.

Pensions Authority

The Pensions Authority confirms that it is in full compliance with the requirements of Circular 05/2023, Initiatives to Assist SMEs in Public Procurement, including the mandatory requirement to publish contract award notices for all contracts above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) on the e-Tenders platform.

In line with the Circular, the Authority has implemented internal procurement procedures that ensure that all relevant contracts are advertised and awarded in accordance with the updated thresholds and transparency obligations. The Authority remains committed to transparency, good governance, and supporting SME participation in public procurement

Pensions Council

The Pensions Council is an advisory body to the Minister and the secretariat is provided by the Pensions Authority. Procurement is handled on their behalf by Pensions Policy unit of the Department.

Social Welfare Tribunal.

The Social Welfare Tribunal does not have any procurement of services in relation to the operations of the Tribunal.