Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress he has made in developing a national action plan on green procurement; when the plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45789/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A discussion document, Towards a National Action Plan on Green Public Procurement, was published by my Department in May 2010. The document outlined the key issues that could be addressed by a National Action Plan and proposed priority product groups for which the public sector should have GPP criteria in their tendering processes. The document was made available on my Department's website to facilitate a structured public consultation process, details of which were also advertised in the national press. The public consultation process closed in September and over 60 written submissions were received.

These submissions are now being examined by my Department and work is well advanced in finalising the National Action Plan in consultation with the Department of Finance and the National Procurement Service within the Office of Public Works. Seven priority areas will be identified in the National Action Plan – construction; transport; energy; food and catering services; paper; textiles; and cleaning products and services. Other areas are likely to be identified as implementation of the Plan progresses. It is intended to finalise and publish the Plan early in 2011.