AQW 9564/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 08/04/2024
Answered On Date: 17/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he will review the procurement system for schools to ensure they can access best value for money.

Answer:

The Education Authority (EA) is designated as Education’s Centre of Procurement Expertise (CoPE). This means the EA is directly responsible for the procurement of goods and services on behalf of schools.

Both the EA and schools are bound by the Public Contract Regulations (PCR) 2015 and Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP). As the managing authority for controlled schools, the funding authority for all grant-aided schools and the education CoPE, the EA is responsible for ensuring that effective procurement practice is embedded across the education sector to provide best value for money across the entirety of the schools estate as a whole, rather than in isolation.

Where an EA contract does not already exist, schools can conduct their own lower value transactional purchases up to the value of £5,000, as outlined in Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 04/21, which sets out the Procurement Control Limits (PCLs) for all public bodies, including schools.

Notwithstanding, during my school visits, school leaders frequently highlight procurement as a cause for concern.

The EA recognises these concerns and intends to address this in its new maintenance and minor works contracts, which will be based on defined geographical areas and will allow schools the greater freedom to engage locally approved suppliers. In the first instance, schools should engage with the EA Estates Team in this respect.

Furthermore, I also understand that the Minister of Finance has commissioned a review of Public Procurement, including the Procurement Board, in line with recommendations made by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in the April 2023 Review of Public Procurement, in which my Department and the EA will participate.