Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance the value of contracts covered by EU procurement directives in view of the fact that economic and financial standing is one of the criteria laid down in the EU procurement directive for preselection of contractors tendering for building contracts; the scale of contract below which these EU criteria do not apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26511/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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An exact breakdown of the value of public works contracts above and below EU Directive thresholds is not available. However, statistics on public works contracts advertised in the Official Journal of the EU by Irish contracting authorities indicate a value of approximately €3.5 billion for these contracts. This represents about 50% of the estimated total value of public works contracts. It is essential that contractors performing any public contract be of sufficiently sound economic and financial standing. The criteria used to determine the appropriate level of financial capacity must, of course, be proportionate and relevant to the needs of individual contracts. Contracting authorities have various means of obtaining the necessary evidence to satisfy themselves in regard to this, such as turnover, extracts from balance sheets, banker's letters and access to insurance in regard to professional indemnity, public liability and employer liability.