Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

It depends on the service. There is a variety of services. Given the size and scale of the Department, services like cleaning and waste management are significant and we might put in place a contract lasting three or five years. Other services are specifically project based, in other words, we are contracting for the development of particular software or consultancy. We have extensive arrangements for contracting out to the value of approximately €120 million per annum. They range from contracts with branch officers to provide claim taking and processing services in 60 locations to the contract with An Post to provide payment services. We are currently evaluating responses to a tender in that regard. The tender, which will be very valuable, is for an initial period of two years with the possibility of extending it for a further two years.