Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to help SMEs navigate the procurement landscape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28023/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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My department has taken a number of steps in recent years to promote the participation of SMEs in public procurement and help them navigate the procurement process.

In 2023 my department published Circular 05/2023: Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement, which includes policy measures aimed at assisting SMEs to access public procurement opportunities.

My department has also published information for suppliers, which is aimed at promoting public procurement as a business opportunity and supporting suppliers navigate the procurement process through the provision of accessible guidance and resources. This guidance was developed in collaboration with SME representative bodies.

The primary way in which the Government engages with SMEs on public procurement is the SME Advisory Group, which the Minister of State, Emer Higgins, chairs. This group includes industry and public sector stakeholder representatives and affords an opportunity to hear from SMEs their experiences tendering for public contracts, and voice any concerns on issues affecting their participation.

My department participates in the monthly Go-2-Tender programme. This programme, which is operated by Intertrade Ireland who sit on the SME Advisory Group, has been designed to help SMEs in bidding for and servicing public contracts. This programme includes training on the procurement landscape, provides an insight to the central purchasing model and an overview of the legal framework.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to reviewing the public procurement process to make it more transparent and encourage greater participation from SMEs. Working towards this aim, and to set out the strategic direction of public procurement for the next five years, my department is developing a first national public procurement strategy. One of the foundational policy positions of the strategy is to make participation easier for suppliers. Through an extensive public consultation and two workshops, my department has been listening to the views of SMEs to progress this objective.

My department, along with Intertrade Ireland, is organising an all-island supplier event in November. The format is a tradeshow with the objective of informing SMEs and the wider supply base of upcoming tendering opportunities. This event will provide opportunities for SMEs to meet public buyers and avail of learning zones around topical procurement subjects.