Irish SMEs benefitting from public procurement process – Kyne

Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Sean Kyne, has welcomed the renewed commitment by the Government to ensure SMEs benefit from opportunities presented by the public sector procurement process. Deputy Kyne was speaking after a Dáil debate this week in which he questioned the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, on the new office of public procurement and the measures being taken to ensure Irish SMEs can maximise opportunities to win public contracts.

“This week in the Dáil I was heartened to hear the response of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, to my question on public procurement opportunities for SMEs. The Minister confirmed the Government’s focus on ensuring that Irish SMEs are fully engaged in public sector procurement and the opportunities that may arise from it.

“The Minister’s response to my question also highlighted the fact that in excess of 95% of public procurement in Ireland is won by Irish companies, 75% of which are SMEs. This is good for the regional economic recovery, much of which is reliant on a strong SME sector. Small businesses are the backbone of our towns and communities right across the country.

“The Government is focused on maximising the opportunities for Irish SMEs to win public contracts.

“The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform recently published Circular 10 of 2014, a document which sets out new initiatives aimed at opening up opportunities for small businesses to bid for State business. These new guidelines are aimed at reducing the administrative burden and costs on businesses that want to tender for public contracts.

“The recently established Officer of Government Procurement is also running a country wide programme of education for suppliers who wish to learn more about doing business with the Irish public service.  These workshops and seminars are run in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland and afford suppliers an opportunity to meet and discuss the issues with public service buyers and provide networking opportunities for suppliers to build consortia and synergies between suppliers to facilitate joint bids.

“The Live Register has fallen by 16% across Co. Galway since Fine Gael entered Government. Continued support for our SME sector will ensure that this figure keeps falling and that jobs are created in our towns and villages.”