DUBLIN: HSE says that the awarding of a national contract for the provision of blinds, curtains and furniture represents a saving for the taxpayer, but small businesses say they’re losing out.
The executive had previously awarded the contracts on a smaller basis, working generally with local businesses.
However, that process changed recently and the national contract was awarded to a foreign company, with one HSE officer reportedly telling a business owner that the price had “blown the small businesses out of the water”.