Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the use of outside consultants by local authorities in areas in which they already have internal expertise; if he has issued any guidelines to local authorities across the country in this regard; his further views on the use of consultants (details supplied) at a reported cost of €250,000 by Dublin City Council for advice on tendering for waste collection services when DCC have carried out this function for more than a century and have significant in-house expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9795/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. Local authorities work individually, jointly and at sectoral level to achieve savings in the procurement area, as recommended by the Local Government Efficiency Review Report and through engagement with the National Procurement Service under the remit of the Office of Public Works. Procurement of individual products or services is a matter for the local authority directly concerned.