Call for taskforce that has oversight for capital projects

A breakdown of non-compliant procurement shows that over €2.1m was spent unifying the financial management systems of all 16 Education and Training Boards.

The Government has been urged to overhaul the approach to tenders, after it was revealed the Department of Education spent €5.5m outside of procurement rules.

According to documents provided by the department, €5,501,846 was spent on 20 projects which were not compliant with procurement in 2023.

A breakdown of non-compliant procurement shows that over €2.1m was spent unifying the financial management systems of all 16 Education and Training Boards.

Following "failed market engagement", the contract was placed with Core Financial Systems without a competitive process. 

Under public procurement rules, all contracts incurred by State bodies valued at greater than €25,000 must be secured via competitive tender.

The Core Financial Systems contract was initially for a two-year period but two further one-year extensions were required "to ensure continuation of service".

The department said the original budget and scope of the contract "did not include key requirements" and change notices were then required to add "critical functionality" to the system.

Aidan Farrelly called for a specific taskforce that has oversight for capital projects by departments to investigate why billions is being lost to bad deals.

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, a member of the Public Accounts Committee, said this is a common trend and raises questions when it comes to procurement and contract writing.

He has called for a specific taskforce, or committee, that has oversight for capital projects by departments to investigate why billions of euros is being lost to bad deals.

Documents provided to Mr Farrelly also showed that University College Dublin spent €4.4m on 33 projects which did not fully comply with public sector procurement regulations.