Mairéad Farrell
Question:122. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total spend on external contractors, consultancy services and other outsourcing in 2018 and 2019. [46927/21]
View answerWednesday, 29 September 2021
Questions (122)
Written answers
The Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary.
External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money.
Such external expertise may involve the provision of specialised reports, expert analysis or expert technical services to the Department.
A small number of consultancies are engaged directly by our Missions abroad from time to time and in some instances they prepare technical reports relating to Ireland’s overseas development aid programme.
The Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).
The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) focusing especially on achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of different categories of supplies and services.
The total spend in 2018 was €27,471,366.68.
The total spend in 2019 was €24,477,945.95.
Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 119.