Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2015
234. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [26950/15]
View answerMy Department engages professional service providers in a number of areas where the required skills are not available in-house and it is more cost- effective to source them externally. Details of payments in the twelve months to the end of 2014 are included below in respect of Vote 27 (International Co-operation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade).
Vote 27 - €2.305 M
Vote 28 - €5.675 M
Total - €7.980 M
The application of a 10% reduction to this expenditure would result in a net saving of €0.798m.
Decisions on the need to commission and engage professional service providers are subject to the establishment of appropriate business cases and an approvals process carried out by Senior Management in the Department. These services are procured by open competitive tender in accordance with EU and national rules and comply with the overall value for money objective of the Department. The level of expenditure on professional service providers is constantly monitored.
