222. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether consideration has been given to the establishment of an independent procurement oversight body, commissioner or inspectorate; and if he will provide details of any review undertaken. [75170/26]

234. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the public bodies that are responsible for monitoring compliance with public procurement requirements following contract award. [75158/26]

235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if any State body currently has responsibility for monitoring procurement activity across all contracting authorities on a real-time or continuous basis. [75157/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 234 and 235 together.

There is currently no single State body with responsibility for monitoring public procurement activity across all contracting authorities on a real-time or continuous basis.

It is the responsibility of Individual Accounting Officers to ensure that their public procurement functions are discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures and are publicly accountable for expenditure incurred. Individual contracting authorities are responsible for establishing arrangements for ensuring the proper conduct of their affairs, including conformance to standards of good governance and accountability regarding procurement.

The Office of Government Procurement has responsibility for developing procurement policy, issuing guidance and supporting public sector procurement reform. However, it does not perform a real-time compliance monitoring or regulatory function across all public bodies. Information on procurement opportunities and contract award notices is published through the eTenders platform, which provides transparency in public procurement activity.

Following contract award, responsibility for monitoring compliance with procurement requirements and contractual obligations rests primarily with the contracting authority concerned. Additional oversight may arise through internal audit by the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Contracting authorities are also required to comply with reporting requirements set out in relevant public procurement guidance, including for certain non-competitive contracts under Circular 40/2002.

There are currently no Government proposals to establish an independent oversight body with responsibility for monitoring procurement compliance across the entire public sector.