Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
909. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated full-year savings for 2017 by reducing spending on professional fees by 10% in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14113/16]
View answerThe estimated expenditure provision for professional fees, including but not limited to legal, IT-related, accountancy, and other advisory and consultancy costs for 2016 for my Department is €5.3 million. It is important to recognise the uncertain nature of legal fees which can vary from year-to-year, and will be dependent on caseload, complexity, duration and outcome.
The €5.3 million includes an amount of €784,000, which relates to the Forfás consultancy budget which is now part of the Department’s budget following Forfás integration into the Department in mid-2014.
The indicative saving in 2017 if the expenditure provision on professional fees was to be reduced by 10% would be in the region of €530,000.
My Department keeps the overall position on all expenditure, including professional fees, under close review. 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. All expenditure incurred by the Department is subject to annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General as well as the Department’s Internal Audit Unit. On occasion the Revenue Commissioners will also conduct audits on departmental expenditure to ensure compliance with tax requirements.
