Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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106. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will set out by category and in detail a breakdown of the €124,000 estimated to be spent on consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews in the 2013 estimates, an increases of 164% in the estimates spend in 2012 providing detail of the additional spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24864/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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A total of €138,000 was allocated for consultancy services, value for money and policy reviews in 2012. This subhead provides for fees and expenses in respect of consultancy assignments and other surveys and studies commissioned by my Department, which at present relate primarily to the Arts Division. In line with Government policy, my Department endeavoured to reduce the use of consultants as far as possible and succeeded in reducing the level of expenditure in 2012 to some €47,000.

The 2013 allocation of €124,000 for consultancy services, value for money and policy reviews represents a decrease of 10% when compared against the 2012 allocation of €138,000.

In order to allow my Department to be in a position to respond to issues as they arise during the course of the year, the €124,000 is not yet fully committed. My Department will continue to minimise expenditure under this heading as far as possible and, as with 2013, I expect that savings will again be achieved against this allocation.