Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am looking at the administration side, which is dealt with on the first page, and at the percentage increases and decreases. The headings with the highest percentage increases tend to be under administration. For example, there was a 9% increase in salaries, wages and allowances in 2018 from 2017. In No. VI, for offices, premises and expenses, the increase is 12% between 2017 and 2018. In No. VII, for consultancy services and value-for-money and policy reviews, there is an increase of 11% from 2017 to 2018. Can the Minister comment on that? Some of it is probably due to pay agreements and so forth, but the increase stands out as high given the percentage increases in some of the other areas. We are seeing the highest percentage increases on the administration side.