Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The national procurement service is focused on developing centralised arrangements for the procurement of goods and services used commonly across the public service nationwide. The benefits arising from these central arrangements include cash savings, administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering, greater purchasing expertise, improved consistency and enhanced service levels.

Within the education sector, the mandatory arrangement relating to stationery currently applies to the higher education and VEC sectors. I understand that the national procurement service is working on a new contract for stationery which will be in place from April 2013.

My Department is working on a procurement circular for schools and the content of this will be the subject of discussion with the national procurement service and the school management bodies. I understand that officials from the Department of Education and Skills and the NPS are meeting on 28 January to discuss these matters further.

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