Consultancy Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Ceisteanna (609)

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

706 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by his Department in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; the numbers of consultants engaged by his Department in those years; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by his Department in these years and for the future. [25554/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

Details of all consultancy payments by the Department are available on my Department's website www.dttas.iefeature.aspx?id=82. It is the policy of the Department in the exercise of its functions to use internal resources as far as possible. These have, when needed, been supplemented by secondments from the agencies operating under the aegis of the Department where it has been practical to do so.

However external consultants are hired occasionally in circumstances where particular expertise is not available from either of the forgoing sources 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.