Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to outsource a large part of the national book tender for libraries to a UK supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3314/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has no role in relation to the procurement of book-stock for public libraries. The provision of public library services, including the procurement of books, is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. In this regard, a national tender for book stock procurement was run recently by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of local authorities. The tender process concluded recently and contracts were signed with the successful tenderers. I understand that Irish companies were successful in four of six lots.

It is expected that the new contracts will come into effect in the coming months as the existing contracting between suppliers and library authorities expire. The new national framework will deliver an improved outcome in terms of stock ordering and servicing, securing greater efficiencies, better value-for-money and the best choice of material for our public libraries.