Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
197. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [33659/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn addition to the Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Secretary General and the Director of Finance, there are eight staff assigned to the Department’s central procurement function.
The Department actively supports a policy of continuous professional development for all staff working in central public procurement to meet the demand for a capable, technically skilled procurement team with the capacity to work in multidisciplinary teams that deliver fit-for-purpose procurement results. Procurement training is an element of a broader professional development framework for all the procurement team under PMDS.
All procurement staff members in the Department have undergone certified procurement training with external professional procurement contractors. Procurement staff development involves formal training programs, on-the-job learning, mentorship, seminar attendance and other methods to improve technical capability. Areas covered include procurement directives interpretation, overview of the infrastructure guidelines, e-procurement, principles of good procurement, value for money, tender planning and preparation, green procurement, tender evaluation and contract award, contract preparation and the remedies legislation.
The Department operates in close collaboration with the OGP by utilising central arrangements and also directly procures compliant contracts where necessary.
There are no agencies under the Department’s remit.
