Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the value a contract must be before the contract has to go to public tender; the value contracts, particularly small civil engineering works contracts, that can be awarded by local authorities without going to public tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1132/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is a core principle of Government policy that a competitive process should always be used in the award of public works contracts. The advertising requirements for public works contracts are determined by the value of the contract under national guidelines and EU Directives.

All public works contracts above 50,000 euro must be advertised on the national public procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie (eTenders). EU rules require that public works contracts above 5 euro million must also be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU. In relation to public works projects below 50,000 euro the EU Treaty principles of transparency and non-discrimination still need to be satisfied and contracting authorities are encouraged to advertise public works contracts below this value where the response would not be disproportionate to the contract value. Where a contracting authority does not advertise for projects below 50,000 euro, at least five firms should be invited to tender.