Vol. 502 No. 4
72 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the importance of retaining small enterprises (details supplied) in view of the manner in which tendering processes encourage larger economy of scale units. [8462/99]
I am fully alive to the immense contribution by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to employment creation, output expansion and export growth. Government policy is very much directed at ensuring the continued development of SMEs. I am also cognisant of the difficulties for SMEs in endeavouring to tender for public or private contracts.
The EU funded Operational Programme for Small Business 1995-1999 provides for a specific measure to facilitate access to public markets by SMEs. Four targeted actions were introduced for this purpose. These comprise:
(i) publication annually of a directory of public sector buyers,
(ii) the arrangement of workshops/seminars for buyers and suppliers,
(iii) a cross-Border initiative to help SMEs access public sector markets in both the South and the North and
(iv) the appointment of public procurement specialists within Enterprise Ireland. In September 1998, my Department commissioned a study to evaluate the opportunities for small firms in the public sector market. The study's findings, expected next month, should provide direction on future policy.
Finally, I should add that inter-agency co-ordination arrangements have been established, at my request, between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, to facilitate the identification and promotion of purchasing opportunities for Irish based firms, including SMEs. Enterprise Ireland is also examining ways of streamlining its linkage programmes following the amalgamation of Forbairt and An Bord Tráchtála.
