Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Finance if a central procurement unit has been established to ensure costs are at a minimum and that the State can achieve economies of scale through pooling orders and resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38219/09]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The National Public Procurement Operations Unit (NPPOU) has been established by Government Decision on 8 July 2008 and is based in the Office of Public Works, Trim, Co. Meath.

The Unit is actively working to reduce costs in public procurement through a number of initiatives that include:

Percentage reduction in goods and services contracts. A reduction of 8% in the cost of all goods and services supplied to Government Departments, Offices, Agencies and Third Level Institutions. To date, savings of €21,500,000 have been achieved.

Development of E-tenders website. The present e-tenders website is being upgraded and its applications expanded to make it more user friendly and informative.

Analysis of Public Spending. An analysis of all public spending is taking place to identify potential areas of saving by means of amalgamated future contracts / framework agreements.

Green Procurement. The NPPOU and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have agreed a joint approach to green and sustainable procurement. This approach will require that green and sustainability issues must be considered in the development of market procurement strategies, and in the assessment of value for money.

Standardisation of Documentation. The NPPOU is working with the Chief State Solicitor's Office to standardise tender and contract documents, thus making the purchasing and supplying of goods/services more straight forward for all parties.