asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider the advisability of permitting local authorities to purchase their tools and other equipment locally and thus give local traders an opportunity of acquiring the custom of local authorities to whom they are substantial ratepayers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Purchases.
Under the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1925, the function of the Minister is limited to the appointment of official contractors. He is not empowered to authorise local authorities to purchase from an alternative source supplies of a commodity for which an official contractor has been appointed. The Act, however, does not prevent a local authority from purchasing locally supplies of a commodity for which there is an official contractor, provided that the quality of the commodity so purchased is not inferior and the price not in excess of that of the commodity obtainable from the official contractor.