Consultancy Contracts Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Questions (1223)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1223. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure on consultancy by his Department in each of the years from 2015 to 2017, inclusive; the number of consultants engaged by his Department in the years in question; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps taken to reduce expenditure on consultancy and the Department's reliance on consultants in the years in question and for the future. [15194/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Details of all consultancy payments by the Department are available on my Department's website: www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.

The website is updated on a six monthly basis and the second six months for 2017 will be available shortly.

It is the policy of the Department in the exercise of its function to use internal resources as far as possible. However, external consultants are hired occasionally in circumstances where particular expertise is not available internally and where it is deemed to add value and independence to the overall work of the Department.

My Department is constantly looking at ways to upskill internal staff to minimise the need to use external consultants.  All administrative budget expenditure within my Department is undertaken in accordance with public financial procedures.