I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together.
Since my Department was established on 2 June 2011, a total of €1,660 has been expended on external IT consultancy. This arose on one occasion in 2012 and was incurred in respect of the assessment of a wide-area networks procurement. In this instance, external and current network-market expertise was considered advisable to accord with best practice for this type of technical procurement. A further expenditure of a similar nature and cost may be incurred in 2014, when the procurement of diverse wide-area network links is considered.
My Department does not retain an external IT consultant on an ongoing contractual basis; rather it procures the required services as and when required.