Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Department of Education and Skills

Public Procurement Regulations

Photo of Nicky McFaddenNicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his policy in relation to the procurement of school supplies; if procurement has been centralised; if he will acknowledge the potentially adverse impact on local stationery supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17113/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Public Service Reform Plan, published in November 2011, recognises the key strategic importance of public procurement and provides for the development of a new policy framework for procurement. This work is now being led by the newly appointed Chief Procurement Officer, Paul Quinn. Under his leadership, a new national procurement office for the public sector is being established. Paul Quinn is currently working with officials across the public sector, including those in my Department, to put in place new sectoral and centralised procurement arrangements.

My colleague Minister Howlin has highlighted the importance of ensuring that the public sector is achieving maximum value for money and operational efficiency in its approach to public procurement. It has been estimated that €9 billion is spent by public bodies annually on the procurement of supplies and services. Centralising the procurement of commonly used goods and services can deliver significant benefits which include: cash savings; administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering; greater purchasing expertise; improved consistency and enhanced service levels.

The National Procurement Office (NPS) is already supporting Small and Medium Business Enterprises (SMEs) to participate in public sector procurement competitions through its education and guidance strategies. All of the NPS tender documents explicitly seek to encourage the participation of SMEs in competitions, by encouraging them to explore the possibilities of forming relationships with other SMEs or with larger enterprises.

I understand that Irish SMEs have been successful in winning NPS frameworks and about three quarters of existing NPS contracts/frameworks are held by SMEs. These SMEs may, in turn, source many of their services and products from local manufacturers and agents. However, I do appreciate the concerns being raised by local school supply companies and I have asked relevant officials here in the Department, who are coordinating procurement reform in the Education and Training sector, to take these concerns into consideration in the context of the work being undertaken on procurement reform.

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