Unemployed people in the North were today set to benefit from new purchasing plans announced in the Assembly.
Finance Minister Sean Farren confirmed more than 70 measures aimed at
achieving better value-for-money for the Stormont Executive.
Mr Farren told MLAs that the measures would see economic, social and environmental concerns brought to the fore in public contracts.
He announced a series of pilot schemes across all departments aimed at bringing people back into work.
"New measures are being introduced which are aimed at integrating the Executive's social and economic policies in a way which can make a real difference to the unemployed."
The pilot will cover 20 construction or service contracts, with at least one from each department and will last two years.
The Northern Ireland Executive currently spends around €1.33billion each year on goods and services such as roads, computer software and stationary and cleaning arrangements.
PA