Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
653. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the number of times the education procurement service has been contacted by contracting authorities for guidance on the inclusion of social and environmental criteria in procurement contracts; if the education procurement service monitors the level of use of social and environmental criterion in procurement by contracting authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38196/23]
View answerThe Education Procurement Service (EPS) has a policy of providing general guidance and advice on social and environmental criteria to all contracting authorities on initial engagement when they are sourcing goods/services on their behalf.
The EPS has not received any specific requests for guidance from contracting authorities on the inclusion of social and environmental criteria for self-procurement projects.
If contacted by contracting authorities, the EPS would advise: a) it’s their responsibility to devise their own social and environmental criteria appropriate to their procurement requirements and b) The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) an office of DPENDER or the EPA who have responsibility for providing guidance on social and environmental criteria can be contacted for advice.
The responsibility for monitoring the level of use of social and environmental criteria in procurements is the responsibility of each contracting authority. EPS ensures as a central procurement body that all its central arrangements include social and environmental criteria where appropriate.
