Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
744. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether schools participating in the hot school meals scheme are required to retain written conflict-of-interest declarations from all persons involved in tender evaluation processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39264/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether unsuccessful suppliers under the hot school meals scheme have access to a formal procurement appeals or review mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39268/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra746. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the Office of Government Procurement was consulted in the design of the current hot school meals scheme procurement framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39269/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra748. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether schools participating in the hot school meals scheme are required to maintain records of all communications with suppliers during live procurement competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39271/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 744, 745, 746 and 748 together.
My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the Scheme in their school including handling the procurement process. The Schools Procurement Unit under the Department of Education and Youth, provides guidance to schools for all procurements including the School Meals Scheme.
The Office of Government Procurement templates were used to design the Hot School Meals procurement templates. The following are a list of agencies that the Department of Education and Youth consulted when drafting the Hot School Meals Template - Dept of Health, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Health Service Executive, Chief State Solicitors Office Public Procurement Law and Chief State Solicitors Office State Leases Section, State Claims Agency, Health Safety Authority, Allianz, IPB Insurance, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Dept of Climate Energy and the Environment, Department of Education and Youth - (Planning and Building Unit, Child Protection, Shared Service Implementation Unit and Procurement, Data Protection Officer, Official Languages Liaison, Child Protection, School Procurement Unit), and Department of Social Protection.
The Hot School Meals scheme requires all participating schools to fully comply with their obligations to public procurement, including any requirement to maintain records of communications that might be required under EU Public Procurement Law, or National Rules/Guidelines. Calls for tenders that issue via the e-Tenders system, record and maintain records of all communications that take place within its messaging functionality. Conflict of Interest or "No Conflict Declarations", must be retained by the school as the contracting authority.
On the Department of Education and Youth’s School Procurement Unit website they have provided template letters for schools to issue to unsuccessful tenders which gives the option to the suppler to contact the signatory of the letter if they have any queries.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
