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Departmental Offices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2014

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Questions (83)

Áine Collins

Question:

83. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a new office for Government procurement will be set up in County Cork; and to set out how staff will be appointed to such an office. [3076/14]

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Written answers

The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established late last year as key element of the Public Service Reform agenda to reduce costs and achieve better value for money through reform of public procurement. The OGP's mission is to deliver sustainable procurement savings for the tax payer by optimising value for money across the public service.

The OGP will be head-quartered in Dublin. However, as there are public service staff in different locations across the country that have the necessary skills and expertise to make a positive contribution to the work of the OGP, it is planned to have a number of OGP offices in regional locations. In order to determine the right number of offices and their locations, the OGP has asked each sector to collate data to assist the OGP in identifying geographical locations where critical mass, skills, experience and expertise currently exists. The collation of this data is currently underway.

In terms of staffing, the OGP will need to attract experienced procurement staff from across the public sector to join it. In planning for this staff migration, cognisance is being given to both Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements. Any expressions of interest / recruitment process will be coordinated across the Public Service by the Public Appointment Service aimed at filling as many of the posts as possible from existing public service employees.  Only when this process is exhausted, and in the event that some posts remain vacant, will an external recruitment process be initiated.

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