I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
My Department currently has 1499 employees (1414 Full Time Equivalent) . This number includes all temporary staff, secondees and those on long term leave, career break etc.
In relation to the organisations named by the Deputy, the Department has corporate IPA membership, one corporate member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and two corporate members of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants. We have no corporate members of the Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
The department does not have a dedicated procurement unit, rather procurement is undertaken by staff within a relevant business unit and all such procurement must adhere to public procurement policy, regulation and best practice. A total of 27 of my Departments staff received procurement training in 2018.