195. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance provided to public bodies regarding engagement with local micro and small enterprises when seeking quotations for contracts below the national advertising thresholds; and the measures in place to ensure that such opportunities are accessible to new and emerging suppliers and are not repeatedly confined to established or larger suppliers. [66289/26]

Supporting SME participation in public procurement remains a key Government priority. This is reflected in the recently published National Public Procurement Strategy, Procuring for our future, which sets out our ambition to optimise the use of public procurement as an investment tool by making it easier for SMEs to participate, particularly start-ups, micro-enterprises and social enterprises, thereby driving competition and value for money and delivering better public services.

The Strategy builds on the significant work undertaken by my Department in recent years to promote SME participation in public procurement. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which sits within my Department, has developed a range of guidance and practical supports aimed at promoting SME participation in public procurement. These resources encourage public buyers to adopt proportionate and SME-friendly procurement practices and encourage greater engagement with suppliers at all stages of the procurement process. Among these measures, public bodies are encouraged to consider seeking quotations from local SMEs and social enterprises and to make information on how they seek quotations for lower-value contracts available on their websites. The Procurement Officer Network has also provided a valuable forum for sharing practical examples of social enterprises successfully securing public contracts. These examples demonstrate the benefits of reaching out to a broad and diverse supplier base when seeking quotations, helping to increase competition, support local enterprise and deliver wider social value while continuing to achieve value for money.

My Department has taken a number of recent steps to simplify the procurement of goods and services below the national advertising threshold. On 15 September, new enhancements to the eTenders platform were launched to streamline the electronic Request for Quotation (RFQ) process. The enhanced functionality allows public buyers to search for suppliers by location when seeking quotations, making it easier to identify local suppliers when advertising lower-value procurement opportunities. In parallel, a new RFQ template was introduced to support public buyers in applying proportionate procurement practices for lower-value contracts. Together, these measures are intended to reduce administrative burdens for both buyers and suppliers, make it easier for SMEs and new market entrants to compete for public contracts, and improve access to procurement opportunities below the national advertising threshold.

Complementing this work, my Department provides a range of supports for suppliers through its dedicated Sell to Government webpage, which offers practical guidance and signposts businesses to resources designed to help them compete for public sector contracts. A further recent initiative is the launch of a webinar series designed to support SMEs in successfully tendering for public sector opportunities across all areas of Government.

Taken together, these measures reflect my Department's ongoing commitment to making public procurement more accessible, proportionate and user-friendly for SMEs. Through a combination of policy reform, practical guidance, digital improvements and supplier supports, we are working to make it easier for SMEs to participate in public procurement, thereby strengthening competition, supporting economic development, delivering value for money and helping to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people of Ireland and Irish businesses.