Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the plans he has to ensure fuller segmentation of public procurement contracts; the timeframe involved; to clarify if this will apply to capital works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36178/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Public Procurement policy is primarily a matter for the Department of Finance, for the National Public Procurement Policy Unit (NPPPU) within that Department and for the National Procurement Service (NPS) within the Office of Public Works (OPW) which comes under the aegis of the Department of Finance. Any plans or proposals to refine Public Procurement policy is, therefore, a matter for the Department of Finance.

My Department also helps to support Irish business in obtaining public contracts. I am acutely aware of the importance of public procurement contracts for the Irish enterprise base. Since the launch by my Department last year of the 10 Step Guide to Smart Procurement and SME Access to Public Contracts, substantial progress has been made in assisting SMEs gain public procurement business. Enterprise Ireland has also established a new Public Procurement Unit to better connect companies with public procurement opportunities both in Ireland and overseas.

The Department of Finance recently issued new guidelines, entitled "Guidance for Contracting Public Authorities: Facilitating Participation of SMEs in Public Procurement", to all public contracting bodies outlining a number of new initiatives being undertaken to facilitate access to public contracts for small and medium sized firms including subdividing contracts into smaller lots which would facilitate participation by small and medium sized companies.