Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the ability of schools to purchase stationery supplies from local stationery businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42226/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Procurement Service puts procurement frameworks and contracts in place for use by public bodies. The national stationery contract, which was put in place in April 2011, does not apply to the school sector. However, a Request for Tender has issued for the new stationery contract which will apply to schools after it is awarded. 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. A recent circular (D/PER 16/13) places emphasis on the need for all public bodies to achieve value for money when procuring goods and services. In addition, given the financial constraints within which we must all now work, cost reductions and savings can go some way to helping Exchequer funded bodies, such as schools, manage within reducing financial budgets.