Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he had examined ways and means of reducing costs to the Exchequer arising from public procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35400/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Public Service Reform Plan, which I announced today, includes measures aimed at driving better value in public procurement through increased capability, increased aggregation of requirements, more measurement and analysis and innovative use of technology.

The National Public Procurement Policy Unit in my Department and the National Procurement Service have been developing a strategic approach to procurement across the Public Sector. This has a focus on achieving value for money, simplifying the tender process to make it more accessible for business (with particular reference to SMEs), promoting economic development and encouraging innovation. The strategy will be underpinned by new structures set out in the Reform Plan, greater expenditure analysis, and target setting with performance and savings indicators.