Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
467. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline how the SME Advisory Group purports to address the issues affecting SME participation in public procurement and to understand how representative bodies, that are not included on the group, can make submissions on operational matters that impact them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/23]
View answerThe Government recognises the importance of the SME sector and continues to enhance the already substantial measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. The primary avenue by which the Government engages with SMEs on issues relating to public procurement is the SME Advisory Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Ossian Smyth who has responsibility for public procurement.
The SME Advisory Group, which meets quarterly, includes representatives from the Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (Ibec), the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME), the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Chambers Ireland and the Small Firms Association (SFA). The group has afforded the Government the opportunity to hear first-hand from SMEs about their experiences tendering for public contracts, and to voice any concerns to Government on issues affecting SME participation in public procurement. Some of the many issues that have been discussed by the group include the impact on the ability of SMEs to access public procurement as result of Brexit, Covid-19, Inflation and rising energy costs. Minutes from the meetings of the SME Advisory Group are available on the OGP website www.gov.ie/en/collection/8a305-sme-advisory-group/.
The SME Advisory Group also includes representatives from public body stakeholders including Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). A dedicated sub-group allows for the development of an aligned approach to promoting awareness of public procurement opportunities and supporting SMEs compete for public contracts. The SME Advisory Group has collaborated on a series of events aimed at promoting public procurement as a business opportunity for SMEs including breakfast briefings and go-to-tender workshops. The group has also worked together to develop video case studies profiling regional SMEs that have been awarded public contracts. A further initiative emanating from the SME Advisory Group is the Tender Advisory Service which was established by the OGP, in consultation with SME stakeholders, to address concerns in relation to perceived barriers for SMEs in competing for tender opportunities.
Most recently, the OGP engaged with the SME Advisory Group as part of the revision of Circular 10/2014. Feedback from the SME Advisory Group was that Circular 10/2014 had a tangible impact on improving access by removing the primary barriers to SME participation but that there is a need to reaffirm and update existing measures and consider the introduction of new measures. A Working Group of the SME Advisory Group was established to allow for a more detailed, technical, consultation on matters relating to Circular 10/2014 and to propose amendments to the Circular. A number of recommendations were brought to, and agreed by, the SME Advisory Group and were taken into consideration by the OGP as part of the wider consultation process on the development of Circular 05/2023: Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement.
My Department will continue to proactively engage with business to enhance the significant measures and strategies already in place to support SME access to public procurement opportunities building on the progress to date. Any representative bodies not included on the SME Advisory Group can contact my officials in the OGP directly at OGP Headquarters, 3A Mayor Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 PF72 or email at support@ogp.gov.ie.
