901. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current procurement/contract guidelines for local authorities to direct them to use local services whenever possible; his views on whether local authorities are adequately supporting local businesses in their procurement/contract practices; if he plans to boost same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60780/26]

My Department sets out the procurement procedures to be followed by Government Departments and public bodies in accordance with national and EU procurement rules and Government policy. My Department does not issue procurement guidance specifically for local authorities. Rather, it develops procurement policy and guidance that applies across the public sector. That guidance is underpinned by national and EU procurement rules, which require that public procurement procedures above the EU thresholds, and those with a cross-border interest, comply with the principles of transparency, equal treatment, mutual recognition, non-discrimination and proportionality. These principles ensure that all suppliers are afforded a fair opportunity to compete for public contracts.

The Government recognises the important role that public procurement can play in supporting SMEs, including local, micro and social enterprises. To this end, my Department has introduced a range of measures to facilitate greater SME participation in public procurement. These include guidance for public buyers on practical steps to make procurement more accessible, such as dividing larger contracts into lots, including on a geographical basis where appropriate, to encourage participation by smaller and local businesses

Local authorities, like all contracting authorities, are expected to apply these measures and to conduct procurement processes in a manner that promotes open and fair competition, secures value for money and facilitates SME participation wherever possible. Complementing this guidance for buyers, my Department has also published guidance for suppliers interested in selling to Government, which includes practical information to help suppliers find procurement opportunities and navigate the procurement process.

Last month, my Department published Procuring for our Future: National Public Procurement Strategy 2026-2030, Ireland's first National Public Procurement Strategy. The Strategy was informed by an extensive consultation process, which included significant engagement with the broad spectrum of Irish businesses, including through a public consultation, stakeholder meetings, a dedicated supplier webinar and three regional roadshows.

Reflecting the commitment in the Programme for Government, one of the Strategy's key outcomes is to make it easier for SMEs, particularly micro-enterprises, start-ups and social enterprises, to participate in public procurement. This is supported through a dedicated pillar, Investing in our Enterprise Base. A number of initiatives are already underway to support this objective, including a dedicated programme of SME webinars, a regional SME Breakfast Briefing in Sligo on 8 September, and preparations for a national Supplier Expo in 2027. This builds on the success of Ireland's first National Supplier Expo in 2025, which attracted almost 3,000 attendees and demonstrated the strong appetite among businesses across Ireland to engage with public procurement opportunities.

While decisions on individual procurements are a matter for each contracting authority, my Department will continue to work with local authorities and other public bodies to support implementation of the National Public Procurement Strategy and to further improve access to public procurement opportunities for SMEs, including local enterprises.