Light-Touch Regime
As Gaeilge: Réimeas Lámh-Éadrom
Also known as: Light Touch, Schedule 3 Services
Last reviewed April 2026
A simplified EU regime for social, health, education and other Schedule 3 services with a higher threshold (€750k) and lighter procedural rules.
Schedule 3 of S.I. 284/2016 (transposing Articles 74 to 77 of Directive 2014/24/EU) sets out a light-touch regime for social, health, cultural and certain other services. The financial threshold is €750,000, considerably higher than the standard goods/services threshold. Contracting authorities can design their own procedure provided it respects the EU principles of transparency and equal treatment. A Contract Notice and Contract Award Notice are still required. Common in Ireland for HSE-funded services, ETB training, and Tusla family-support contracts.
Sources and legal basis
Primary legislation and official guidance. Always confirm the current text on the source before relying on it.
Related terms
Threshold
The value above which specific procurement rules apply: €50k national, €140k/€216k EU services, €5.404M EU works (2026–2027 cycle, effective 1 January 2026).
Contract Notice
The formal advertisement of a procurement opportunity: above-threshold notices go to eTenders and TED.
EU Procurement Directives
The EU rules governing public procurement above threshold values, transposed into Irish law as S.I. 284/2016.
Contract Award Notice
The notice published after a contract is signed, naming the winner and the value: published on eTenders and TED.
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