Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2020
139. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and any commercial or non-commercial State bodies and private entities subsidised by 50% or more of public funding under the aegis of her Department have implemented social clauses in their public procurement contracts in the past three years (details supplied); and if so, the nature of these social clauses. [39056/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe inclusion of social considerations has been specifically allowed for in the 2014 EU Directives on Public Procurement. The Office of Public Procurement (OGP) sets out, in its Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement, the key factors for policy departments and contracting authorities to be aware of when contemplating and planning the use of social considerations in public contracts.
My Department awarded one contract in 2019, under Article 20 of DIRECTIVE 2014/24/EU on public procurement which used reserved tendering procedures for companies that promote the integration of disadvantaged persons. This gives organisations whose main aim is the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons the right to participate in public procurements.
My Department and all bodies under the aegis of my Department will continue to have regard to the OGP guidance on these matters and to incorporate social and environmental considerations in its tendering where this is appropriate to the type of contract being tendered. They will also ensure that while incorporating social considerations into procurement, value for money is maintained and it does not give rise to discrimination.
My Department and all agencies under the aegis of my Department along with any service partners, community and voluntary bodies and advocacy groups will continue to further examine any future procurements of goods and services with the objective of promoting and facilitating the inclusion of social considerations, including environmental considerations, in a structured manner in accordance with OGP guidelines.
The Department of Social Protection is a member of the Social Considerations Advisory Group, established by the Office for Government Procurement in early 2019. Informed by the ongoing work of this group, the Department will consider the manner in which it might incorporate social considerations within its public procurement contracts.
