78. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the steps being taken to support small and medium-sized Irish businesses in accessing public procurement opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40690/26]

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the public procurement process to make it more transparent and to ensure 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 Ireland’s first National Public Procurement Strategy.

The forthcoming Strategy has been subject to an extensive consultation process, which has been critical to understanding the primary challenges faced by suppliers when tendering for public contracts. My Department undertook the following as part of this consultation process:

• A public consultation to ensure that all those with an interest in the future direction of public procurement had an opportunity to inform the new strategy.

• Regional workshops in Dublin, Cork and Athlone, which included public buyers and policymakers from across the public sector, representatives from across the broad spectrum of Irish business and civil society, and members of the public.

• A dedicated webinar for suppliers so they could feed into the development of the Strategy.

• Direct engagement with SME representative bodies through the SME Advisory Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Feighan, during the application of the SME Test.

The Strategy will build on the significant work undertaken by my Department in recent years to promote SME participation. This includes the provision of accessible, practical guidance to support suppliers in navigating and participating in public procurement, as well as guidance for public buyers on measures to promote SME participation. Last November, my Department held Ireland’s first Government Supply Expo, which brought together 2,900 participants for networking, tailored presentations and panel discussions. Most recently, on 26 May, a dedicated information session was held to support SMEs in successfully tendering for public contracts. This work is complemented by ongoing engagement with the SME Advisory Group, which will continue to inform Government policy and provide practical insights into the implementation and impact of the Strategy. These initiatives demonstrate my Department’s ongoing commitment, which will be reflected in the forthcoming Strategy, to strengthen engagement with SMEs and make it easier for them to participate in public procurement.