John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department carried out a cost benefit analysis of the proposed State-wide tender for literature and stock in the Library Service; if not, if one can be carried out to ascertain the full impact of these proposed changes to the SMEs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5424/17]

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 has concluded and contracts have been signed with the successful tenderers. Irish companies were successful in four of six lots.

All matters related to the tender process were managed by the LGMA with support from the Education Procurement Service. My Department had no direct role in this process. Accordingly, any queries in respect of the tender process, including the need or otherwise for a cost-benefit analysis, should be addressed directly to the LGMA who can be contacted at corporate@lgma.ie.