885. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his attention has been drawn to the lack of meaningful competition within the OPW event infrastructure framework in the context of delivering infrastructure for approximately 270 events as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union (details supplied); if he is satisfied that genuine competition still exists under this framework; if the framework was reviewed following the closure of a company (details supplied); if the OPW assessed whether the current delivery model continues to provide value for money and complies with public procurement principles; if the OPW intend to refresh or re-tender the framework in light of these significant market changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56156/26]

Ireland is currently hosting the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1st July to 31st December 2026. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is designated as the provider of conference services to the Presidency for the full 6 month programme.

The provision of conference services for such a large number of events involves numerous elements that all require fully compliant public procurement, and this includes the Provision of Temporary Site Services for Stage Hire, Temporary Access, Crowd Control Systems and Bespoke Scaffold Structures.

In the normal way, the Office of Public Works published this Request For Tenders (RFT) on eTenders in accordance with public procurement guidelines. (Reference No.: 4919269. Publication date: 10.01.2025. Competition closure date: 10.02.2025. Contract award date: 21.08.2025).

The OPW is confident that there is a meaningful competitive process in place; this public procurement process facilitated all suppliers in the market that met the criteria to make relevant submissions for adjudication. On conclusion of that competition, the OPW entered into a framework with 3 suppliers – all having supplied all pertinent details and fixed pricing. Therefore, I am satisfied that genuine competition exists.

I am satisfied that the current delivery model continues to provide value for money.

The company to which the Deputy refers notified us that they were withdrawing from this framework on 28th May 2026. I confirm that OPW took advices on this from OGP and given that there are still two companies on the framework, there is no obligation to collapse the framework. The OPW does not intend to refresh or re-tender the framework at this time.

While Ireland’s EU Presidency programme outlines 270 events, is should be noted that this framework will only be utilised for approx. 10% of the events.

These prices are in place for the duration of the contract. This current model is compliant with public procurement rules.

The Government committed in the Programme for Government to resourcing and delivering a successful EU Presidency. Major planning has taken place to date to ensure that costs are managed across all expenditure headings and prudent financial planning will continue throughout to ensure value for money.