1043. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total value of non-compliant public procurement identified within his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57205/26]

My Department is committed to ensuring that procurement activities are conducted in accordance with national and EU public procurement requirements and that robust oversight and governance arrangements are in place to support transparency, accountability and value for money in public expenditure.

My Department monitors procurement compliance through reporting arrangements as set out in the Department of Finance Circular 40/2002, Public Procurement Guidelines. This Circular requires the annual reporting of contracts with a value in excess of €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) that were awarded without a competitive process.  This Circular also requires an annual report to be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General by 31 March of the year following the reporting period.

Based on my Department's 2025 Circular 40/02 return, 5 instances of non-compliant procurement were reported across the Department and its Offices, with a combined value of €233,362.  In accordance with the requirements of Circular 40/02, instances of non-compliant procurement arising during 2026 will be reported in the Department's annual Circular 40/02 return, which will be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General by 31 March 2027.  Procurement compliance in respect of the Agencies of my Department is a matter for their respective Boards.