Marshalled list of amendments

21 February 2025

Item 5: Order Paper 85/22-27 – Tuesday 25 February 2025

Motion: Improving Procurement Practices for Schools

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the vital importance of ensuring schools have access to highquality goods and services that meet their particular needs; notes that public procurement policy does not prohibit schools from directly procuring low cost goods and services in a timely manner; further notes the concerns raised by schools and school leaders regarding the inflexibility and complexity of the Education Authority's (EA) current application of procurement policies; recognises that overly rigid and bureaucratic procurement processes can hinder schools' ability to achieve best value for money, respond quickly to local needs, and access small and local suppliers of relevant goods and services; and calls on the Minister of Education to conduct a review of the EA's application of procurement policy for schools with a focus on reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, providing flexibility for school leaders to make purchasing decisions within clear and transparent guidelines, and establishing regular engagement with school leaders to identify and address ongoing challenges in procurement policy.

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment

Leave out all after 'relevant goods and services;' and insert:

‘calls on the Minister of Education to conduct a review of the EA's application of procurement policy for schools with a focus on reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, providing flexibility for school leaders to make purchasing decisions within clear and transparent guidelines, and establishing regular engagement with school leaders, to identify and address ongoing challenges in procurement policy; and further calls on the Minister of Education to work with the EA to advance plans to delegate authority to schools to procure low value maintenance works, as well as introduce new and more efficient contracts for the delivery of schools maintenance and minor works throughout Northern Ireland.’

[Mr Peter Martin]
[Mr David Brooks]