Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the guidelines in place for the commissioning of outside expertise in the consultancy and public relations fields; and if ministerial approval is required for approval of expenditure on such commissions. [30155/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the percentage of reports, consultancies and cases from external commissions where the issue of poor value for money was highlighted in his Department from 1998 to date. [30170/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.

In the time available, it has not been possible to complete an exhaustive examination of all reports and consultancies commissioned since 1988 that came within the remit of my Department or its predecessors. My Department's policy is to engage consultants or commission reports only in circumstances where: specialised knowledge or expertise, not available in the Department or in the wider Civil Service or public service, is required for a temporary period; a need for objectivity and-or independence is deemed essential; a consultancy study is required by an external body such as the EU; a specialist study or project must be completed within a short timescale; the specialised knowledge or expertise may be available within the Department, but an in-house solution would involve a prohibitive opportunity cost and-or would be impractical, for example, where staff must be diverted from other essential duties.

My Department is particularly mindful of the value for money imperative and the need to develop and deploy in-house skills and, as far as possible, to minimise the requirement for consultancies. The Department also seeks to avail of skills and experiences of other Departments or other parts of the public sector where appropriate. I will be in touch with the Deputy as soon as possible regarding the instances, if any, where value for money issues may have been be identified as a result of assessment by outside bodies.