Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2015
108. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the annual saving to his Department if spending on professional fees, including but not limited to legal, IT-related, accountancy and other advisory and consultancy fees, was reduced by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26952/15]
View answerThe estimated expenditure for professional fees, including but not limited to legal, IT-related, accountancy, and other advisory and consultancy costs for 2015 for my Department is €5,376,500. This includes the figure of €784,000, which relates to the Forfás consultancy budget which is now part of my Departments budget following the integration of Forfás in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The annual saving in 2015, if spending was reduced by 10%, would be €537,650.
My Department keeps the overall position on professional fees, under close review and, where a decision is taken to engage external providers, this is, and will continue to be, done in the context of the options open to my Department at that time and with a view to best value for money. Where the use of external services is considered necessary, this is subject to normal public procurement procedures.
