Minister for Public Expenditure; Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation statement on the National Public Procurement Strategy

The Minister states:

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to reviewing the public procurement process to make it more transparent and encourage greater participation from SMES. Working towards this aim, and to set out the strategic direction of public procurement for the next five years, my Department is developing a first national public procurement strategy.

The strategy has been subject to an extensive consultation process, which has been critical to understanding the primary challenges and opportunities for both public bodies and suppliers. My Department undertook the following as part of the consultation for this strategy:

• A public consultation to ensure that all those with an interest in the future direction of public procurement had an opportunity to inform the new strategy.

  
  

• Regional workshops in Dublin, Cork and Athlone, which included public buyers and policy makers from across the public sector, representation from across the broad spectrum of Irish business, representatives from civil society and members of the public.

  
  

• A dedicated webinar for suppliers so they could feed into the development of the strategy.

  
  

• Bilateral meetings with government departments and key stakeholders.

  
  

My officials are currently drafting the strategy in accordance with the feedback from the extensive consultation. Discussions with colleagues across government and other key stakeholders will be held to agree desired outcomes and actions for inclusion in the strategy.

Once finalised, the strategy will include objectives and cross-departmental actions to support the delivery of strategic, innovative, sustainable and transparent public procurement that promotes competition and value for money. I plan on bringing the strategy to Government in Q1 2026.