Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

It is often stated the Government does not create jobs. However, it does, and €16 billion worth of public contracts in the previous year created tens of thousands of jobs in the market.

This had a multiplier effect of approximately one to three. Some 25% of State contracts are awarded to small and medium enterprises whereas the European average is 38%. With all due respects to the Minister of State, I heard much about the existing problems, the reasons for them and the steps that are to be taken to ameliorate them, including trading supports. Will he consider creating a key performance indicator for public procurement organisations to ensure that 40% of all contracts are awarded to small and medium business?

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