Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to assist small business in obtaining public contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10588/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I refer the Deputy to my answer to his Parliamentary Question no. 3307/12 on 24 January 2012 in which I outlined the elements of my Department's public procurement guidelines that are designed to promote participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the award of public contracts and to reduce the up-front administration burden for them. Public contracting authorities are required to observe these guidelines.

The Government continues to review the situation in regard to SME participation in public procurement and where consistent with achieving value-for-money, probity and transparency, will seek to address any further issues that might be identified.