Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance

Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Office of the Appeal Commissioners (Revised)

3:10 pm

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the Minister about subhead B4, consultancy and other services. The outturn for 2013 was €3.5 million, yet the Estimate allowed for this year is €6.5 million. That seems like a huge amount of money for consultancy and seems even larger and more significant against a background in which the Minister required only half of that in the previous year. I accept that the Minister allowed for approximately €6.5 million last year and did not spend it, but he is allowing for €6.5 million this year for consultants. Could he explain that? Who, precisely, are the consultants? What are they doing for us and why do we need them?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.