Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a final question and had I thought of it earlier I would have done some preparation for it. I do not know how much taxpayers' money is spent on external consultancy work by national and local government, and State agencies. I suspect some academic departments have people with the skill and knowledge to do much of that consultancy work. Would the HEA tender for that type of consultancy work? Would it welcome requests for tenders for such consultancy work? Could that form part of the funding stream for the higher education institutions?