Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 588: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will issue guidelines to local authorities to review turnover threshold conditions being placed on tenders in view of the financial pressure facing many businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15625/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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All public bodies are subject to public procurement policy and guidelines as determined by the Minister for Finance in accordance with national and EU procurement guidelines. The relevant policy and guidance materials are published online at www.e-tenders.gov.ie.

While the public procurement rules do not contain specific turnover threshold levels, there is a general requirement when procuring major construction projects that the scale of operation and level of turnover of firms competing for a project in any particular case must be commensurate with the size of the project to be undertaken. These threshold levels should not be unduly restrictive.

It is a matter for local authorities, as the contracting authorities for the majority of the projects funded from my Department's Vote, to administer this procurement procedure in an appropriate manner having regard to the size of projects in each individual case, or in respect of defined groups of projects. The principle of proportionality must be applied at all times in procurement exercises.