Councillors in Monaghan have called for changes to the tendering process.
There is regular criticism that companies from Northern Ireland are often successful in winning tenders for projects in the Northern Sound region, despite local companies also bidding.
Councillors last week called for the Council to introduce various measures, like social clauses or a requirement that supplies for projects be bought in the county.
Fine Gael's David Maxwell claimed on some projects "not one screw is bought in Monaghan" meaning money spent by the council isn't benefiting local businesses.
He said often a British or Northern Irish company would buy products from their own suppliers, who are often based in the UK.
However, Council Chief Executive Eamon O'Sullivan warned there were a number of risks if the Council was to be seen to be issuing tenders to favour some companies over others, including legal action from unsuccessful bidders.
Councillor Maxwell called for a clause to be put in place to require any products used in a building project should meet EU standards.
He said this would mean products are more likely to be bought locally:
