Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
335. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if there are any formal competency frameworks or mandatory qualification requirements in place for public servants working in procurement roles across Government Departments and agencies; and to provide data on compliance or progress toward professionalising the procurement function across the public service. [33688/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not identified mandatory qualification requirements for public servants working in procurement roles across Government Departments and agencies.
The Civil Service Competency Framework supports development of the relevant skills needed by civil and public servants, and further supports capability building for individuals across all roles responsible for delivering on behalf of our Government and the people of Ireland.
My Department supports procurement functions and practice for public servants working in procurement roles across Government Departments and agencies through a range of activities designed to support compliance and strengthen procurement skills and capabilities, such as:
• My Department published an Information note in January 2019 addressing the Procurement Officer Role. The purpose of this information note is to outline the role of a Procurement Officer in organisations that carry out public procurement and identifies the policy and governance context for Procurement Officers, with regard to the National Public Procurement Policy Framework.
• A number of initiatives undertaken at a national level by the OGP to enable better public procurement practice include continuous ongoing enhancements to the suite of guidance for public buyers and suppliers, template tender and contract documents, the Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services update Version 3, the development of a digital Green Public Procurement Criteria Search tool, the publication of circular 05/2023 to support SME participation and the launch of the new national eTenders platform.
• The OGP promotes ongoing and active engagement with the wider public sector through a range of stakeholder events aimed at fostering awareness and promoting compliance with the public procurement regime in addition to a programme of client-facing events. This programme consists of:
• Information Sessions on central arrangements
• Procurement Officer Networks forums
• Bi-annual Client Conference
• My Department has published a wide range of training, guidance and reference information and resources which is made available online, to help public procurement staff use the eTenders platform and comply with the procedures and policies that govern public procurement in Ireland. This ranges from detailed guidance documents to short task-specific video tutorials to facilitate self-paced learning. My Department also provides direct support to civil and public bodies in relation to public procurement matters through the OGP Support service and the various in-person and online events that are either hosted or supported by the OGP.
• In support of the delivery of the Capital Works Management Framework, the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2024, the Commercial Skills Academy offer practical training to both developing and experienced practitioners. The training offerings include modular eLearning courses, information sessions, communities of practice networks and classroom training, providing procurement practitioners with an understanding of key issues, commercial skills, and best practice approaches for effective project delivery throughout the entire lifecycle of a public works project.
Finally, my Department is investigating the suitability and feasibility of creating a public procurement technical skills framework, and the potential application of any such framework with a view to further strengthening commercial and procurement capabilities. Identifying and developing technical procurement competencies and commercial skills will leverage the supports available from relevant learning institutions and industry bodies. There are a range of procurement courses offered by various educational intuitions and private sector training bodies and it is a matter for each Department and agency to address their specific training through their own learning and development policies and practices.
