Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2017
178. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average costs associated with processing and answering written and oral parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe processing of Parliamentary Questions is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of individual sections within Departments and no staff in my Department are assigned full time to dealing with Parliamentary Questions.
Parliamentary Questions are coordinated by the Corporate Office and are dealt with, as the need arises, by the staff in the sections dealing with the particular issue(s) raised in the relevant Parliamentary Question. The number and level of staff and the time spent on an individual answer depends on the issue raised, the form in which the information exists in the Department and the form of the proposed response, i.e. whether oral or written.
The cost of answering a Parliamentary Question and indeed the time taken to answer all questions will vary considerably according to the nature of the question asked. This would inevitably result in significant differences in costs within and across Departments.
My Department has greatly improved the administration of Parliamentary Questions with the introduction of an ePQ system, as part of the Build-to-Share initiative under the ICT Strategy for the Public Service.
Finally, the Deputy may wish to be aware that since the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2011, my predecessor and I have responded to 8,587 Parliamentary Questions.
