Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
424. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has noticed a decrease in the number of contractor firms (engineers, architects, surveyors) bidding for public contracts in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15030/26]
View answer425. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department is aware of contractor firms (engineers, architects, surveyors) capping the amount of public work they bid for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15031/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.
There is no evidence of a decrease in the number of contractor firms (engineers, architects, surveyors) bidding for public contracts in each of the years 2024, 2025, and it is too early to draw conclusions from data for 2026. My Department is not aware of contractor firms capping the amount of public work they bid for.
However there are many reasons as to why individual firms choose to participate (or not) in the procurement process for a public contract. That participation may be tempered by such factors as workload, service requirements, liability, risk, competitive fee pressures, and the rigour of the public procurement environment.
My department is continually delivering reforms to promote participation in procurements associated with public works delivery, most recently through the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) with
• A dynamic and user centred new website, cwmf.gov.ie, better aligned to the needs of suppliers engaging with public works contracts
Inflation and associated cost-adjustment supports such as
• fee adjustment mechanisms that respond to inflationary pressures above a predefined threshold using specified Central Statistics Office (CSO) indices.
• access to live CSO indices relevant to contract management, and
• tools to help manage inflationary pressures.
Caps on overall liability exposure and guidance to contracting authorities on setting appropriate limits on liability and the period of liability imposed under contracts as well as flexible and proportionate advice on the levels and type of insurance that consultants and contractors are required to carry.
Updated guidance on the engagement of consultants was also published in 2025. The guidance brings clarity around the manner in which fees are to be sought for construction technical professionals, particularly in circumstances where the brief requirements may not be fully defined.
