Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2013
166. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine the possibility of a support local business clause being inserted in a percentage of business transactions or dealings undertaken by local authorities and or the municipal authorities to be set up. [26033/13]
View answerThe Public Procurement Guidelines issued by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform apply to all public sector bodies, including local authorities. I am advised that these Guidelines provide that supplies or services less than €5,000 in value may be purchased on the basis of verbal quotes from one or more competitive suppliers and those between €5,000 and €25,000 in value on the basis of responses to specifications sent by fax or email to at least three suppliers or service providers. Contracts with an estimated value of €25,000 or more are requested to be advertised on the national public procurement website etenders.gov.ie. While contracting authorities are not required to advertise on this website for requirements below €25,000, they are encouraged to do so if the anticipated response would not be disproportionate, having regard to the value of the goods and services. Depending on the nature of the requirement, it may be appropriate to supplement national website advertising in other media, trade publications and /or other websites.
While the local government sector must comply with such guidelines, local authorities are actively engaged with local enterprises in promoting local economic development. The Government decision to integrate the local micro-enterprise support services currently undertaken by CEBs with local authorities, and the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), will provide a strong platform for the local authority economic role and will significantly boost the ability of local government to play a lead role in business support locally. As Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are created in local authorities, the capacity of the sector to support local businesses and deliver national policy in support of micro-enterprises will be enhanced. This will include the provision of advice and support to micro-enterprises and Small Medium Enterprises SMEs to engage with the changing procurement processes in the public sector.
The development of policy in relation to the inclusion of social policy clauses in procurement contracts is a matter for my colleague, the nister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
