Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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708. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality 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. [55080/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules and my Department ensures that appropriate procedures are followed for all procurement activity. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working towards ensuring full compliance with Circular 05/2023.

Individual contracting authorities are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contracts awarded represent best value for money. The management of the tendering process for a public contract and the administration of the contract once awarded is a matter for each contracting authority.

A dedicated Procurement Unit in my Department provides assistance, guidance and advice to all members of staff and to the agencies in the Justice Vote.

As part of ongoing work to strengthen procurement compliance, my Department is developing a procurement and contract management training programme that will commence in the coming months.

In line with the Department of Finance Circular 40/02, contracting authorities must also make an annual return to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in respect of contracts above the applicable threshold which are awarded without a competitive process.

The public procurement practices of contracting authorities are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. The procurement practices of contracting authorities within the Justice Vote (Vote 24) are also subject to internal audit.

In accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the relationship between my Department and bodies under its aegis is governed by an oversight agreement, with performance expectations set by annual agreement. These expectations include compliance with procurement policies and procedures.