252 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Government’s policy of green procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46972/10]

My Department, in close consultation with the National Public Procurement Policy Unit of the Department of Finance and the National Procurement Service in the Office of Public Works, is in the process of finalising Ireland's first National Action Plan on Green Public Procurement. The provisions of this National Action Plan will apply to procurement officers across the entire public sector. Seven priority areas will be identified in the National Action Plan — construction; transport; energy; food and catering services; paper; textiles; and cleaning products and services. Other areas are likely to be identified as implementation of the Plan progresses. It is intended to finalise and publish the Plan early in 2011.