Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In regard to the administration category, we have mentioned the training that is ongoing within the Department, recruitment of officials and so on. This is one of the areas that was flagged up in terms of the Department not being fit for purpose at the time of the crash - that we did not have the necessary skills mix among staff. Given what the Minister has said at previous meetings about what has been achieved in this regard, I am grappling with the figures relating to consultancy and other services, which are there in black and white. We have been told that the provision of this programme in 2014 covers "consultancy and other costs associated with EU and international policy". In fact, €350,000 is being spent on consultancy and other services for the purposes of exploring options to improve the growth potential of the economy in order to reduce the level of unemployment.

In view of the fact that there are now so many economists in the Department of Finance, why are we still obliged to outsource this type of work? Why are we setting aside a total of €720,000 - ten times what was spent last year - for consultancy and other services? It appears that €350,000 will be spent on consultancies. Will the Minister indicate, in the context of other services, what the international assignee programme on which €100,000 is being spent involves? It is indicated that the Department of Finance is paying for two officials to serve at the IMF and the EBRD. Are these permanent positions and will the €120,000 allocated be spent each year?

A further €150,000 is allocated for the transformational project within the Department. The Minister states that this money will be used to develop improved governance, risk and compliance frameworks, undertake business process re-engineering and develop and improve work flows and controls. This goes to the heart of what I said earlier and in respect of which the Chair challenged me. Does what is involved relate to recording the receipt of documents within the Department, etc.? There is a one-line explanation provided for a spend of €150,000. Will the Minister provide some further detail?