Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2019
138. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of employees in his Department; the number professionally qualified with organisations (details supplied); the number with other relevant professional qualifications; and the number with no professional qualifications, in tabular form. [1892/19]
View answer139. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of employees in his Department authorised to engage in procurement; the number professionally qualified with organisations (details supplied); the number with other relevant professional qualifications; and the number with no professional qualifications, in tabular form. [1909/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.
There are currently 2,463 members of staff in my Department and in the agencies funded from the Justice Vote. Information is not readily available on the number of staff across the sector whose roles may include the procurement of goods. A team of five staff work directly in the Department's Procurement Strategy Group, which provides a central advisory and support function on procurement matters to the Department itself. There is also ongoing interaction with the Office of Government Procurement in the management of procurement and with the Chief State Solicitors Office on legal questions where necessary.
A number of employees have undertaken courses at various levels in the area of Procurement, and these are supported, where appropriate, through the 'Learning and Development' Strategy of my Department and the associated 'Refund of Fees' Scheme. The Department does not currently maintain a central record of staff who are professionally qualified with the named organisations or who hold relevant professional qualifications.
