Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18461/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.  My Department has no role 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.  All matters related to the tender process were managed by the LGMA with support from the Education Procurement Service.

The national tender was considered the most appropriate means of delivering improved efficiencies and value-for-money for public libraries, replacing the need for individual library authorities to undertake separate tendering processes.  The publication of the tender in six lots sought, as much as possible, to secure equality of opportunity for all suppliers while delivering the best outcomes for the public library service.  Irish companies were successful in four of the six lots.

Arrangements have been put in place by bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information by those bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas.  Accordingly, any information sought in respect of the tender process can be obtained directly from the LGMA at corporate@lgma.ie.