Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to increase the €50,000 threshold for public procurement in view of the fact that there is an inordinate cost associated with complying with the e-tender conditions for projects over €50,000 for small community based projects under €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19614/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that late last year my Department issued guidelines addressed to public bodies and aimed at facilitating small and medium-sized enterprises in competing for public procurement opportunities. These guidelines maintained the existing threshold for advertising public works contracts in excess of €50,000 on the e-tenders website. The main reasons for setting the threshold at this level is to open up public procurement opportunities to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and to achieve value for taxpayer's money through a competitive and transparent tendering process. It is a basic principle of public procurement that a competitive process should be used.

It is worth noting that there are a number of guidance documents and model form contracts aimed at facilitating public bodies in carrying out public works contracts. This information can be found on the construction procurement website www.constructionprocurement.gov.ie These new public procurement guidelines will be kept under review in light of the impact on operational efficiency, value for money and accessibility to business opportunities.