1036. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 3020 of September 2026, to confirm in a yes or no answer whether profit margin is assessed as a criterion in the award of private residential childcare contracts. [64980/26]

1037. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 3022 of 7 September 2026, if she will require private providers of residential childcare to submit segmented or open-book accounts for State-funded placements as a condition of any future tender, so that the profit earned on public contracts can be verified; and if not, the reason for same. [64978/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1036 and 1037 together.

Thank you for your questions about criteria for awarding of residential care contracts.

Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The purpose of these rules is to deliver strategic, innovative, sustainable and transparent public procurement that supports SMEs, competition, and better services to the public.

The first National Public Procurement Strategy was published in August 2026. The Strategy can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/office-of-government-procurement/publications/procuring-for-our-future-national-public-procurement-strategy-2026-2030/

It builds on the public procurement reform programme and align with Better Public Service Transformation 2030.

While the Strategy seeks to harness the collective spending power of the State to generate positive economic, social and environmental outcomes, it does so within the context of sound expenditure management and value for money. It places a strong emphasis on disciplined, evidence-based procurement, ensuring that procurement decisions are justified, expenditure is effectively controlled and public funds deliver the best possible value for money.

The Department and Tusla is required to adhere to procurement rules as espoused in this strategy as these provide the greatest assurance for the management of a robust, competitive procurement process and best value for money.

Where necessary, Tusla procures private providers to supply care to children in State care on their behalf.

As part of any procurement or contracting process for care services, Tusla seeks to ensure that the quality and safety of any services are to the fore to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people. As part of the contracting and tendering process, value for money is also a major consideration to ensure the best use of public money in the provision of services on behalf of the State. This extends to the criteria deployed in these tendering processes.

Private residential services that are engaged by Tusla’s Children’s Residential Services National Placement Team can only be awarded a contract following a successful application to an open procurement tender competition. The Request for Tender document outlines in detail, all of the requirements that must be met, and also stipulates the funding allocated to each of the varying service categories. This competition is operated and overseen by Tusla Procurement in line with all procurement rules and EU Procurement legislation referred to above.