278. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Defence the total value of non-compliant public procurement identified within her Department and in bodies under the aegis of her Department in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57203/26]

The Department of Defence ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and purchasing and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines.

In 2025, the Contracts Register for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces lists 856 contracts with a value in excess of €25,000 ex vat. The Department complied with the procurement guidelines in all but five contracts (in excess of €25,000 ex vat), totalling €182,947 (ex VAT). These five contracts were awarded under the negotiated procedure without publication but did not follow the arrangements laid down in Department of Finance Circular 40-2002.

This indicates that numerically 0.58% of contracts with a value in excess of €25,000 ex vat across the Defence Organisation were assessed as non-compliant in 2025. Over 99% of contracts in excess of €25,000 ex VAT were found to be compliant in 2025.

Each of the five non-compliant procurements have been reviewed by the Department, and steps are being taken to bring them into compliance with the relevant procurement rules as quickly as possible.

In line with the requirements of Circular 40-2002, these 5 contracts were declared on the Secretary Generals return to the Comptroller and Auditor General on 31 March 2026.

Non-compliant contracts for 2026 will be assessed when the Contracts Register for 2026 is compiled in early 2027.

In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, there are three such bodies; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a statutory basis on 1 December 2024. The information the Deputy has requested in relation to these bodies is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy's Office as soon as the information is available.