Departmental Contracts

Thursday, 18 June 2026

Ceisteanna (262)

Albert Dolan

Ceist:

262. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 28 May 2026, and his statement that the publication of purchase order data over €20,000 has been Government policy since 2011, whether his Department monitored compliance with that requirement across Departments, agencies and public bodies between 2011 and 2025; if so, the mechanism used; if not, the reason; and whether his Department has identified the number of bodies not publishing purchase order data in accordance with Government policy prior to the recent correspondence issued to Secretaries General. [46638/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I thank the Deputy for the question.

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act (2014) requires that public bodies prepare and publish a scheme concerning the publication of information in conformity with the Model Publication Scheme guidelines issued by my Department. This supports the principles of openness, transparency, and accountability which underpin our work and allows for the routine publication of materials such as information about the FOI body, services provided or to be provided to the public, financial information (including, as the Deputy notes, purchase order data over €20,000), and so on, outside of FOI.

My Department has issued guidance on the implementation and interpretation of the Model Publication Scheme and has reached out to remind bodies of their obligations under the Act. Earlier this year, we issued a letter reminding all Departments of their obligation to prepare and publish a scheme in line with the Model Publication Scheme. For example, my own Department has an effective process in place to ensure that we routinely publish information on any purchase orders over €20,000. However, while my Department has published such guidance, it has no function in monitoring compliance with it, nor in overseeing the publication schemes of other Departments or bodies under their aegis.