David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of the overseas aid budget that was spent on consultancies in each of the years 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; his plans for spending on consultancies in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41881/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy in respect of Vote 29 – International Co-operation is set out in tabular form as follows:

I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on consultancy expenditures. Irish Aid consultancy services are commissioned where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department and where independent appraisal, audit, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects is required. Given the overall scale, range and diversity of the Irish Aid programme, as well as our commitment to the highest quality, accountability and evaluation, it is necessary, from time to time, to complement our in-house capacity with specialised skills and advice. For example this could include highly specialised knowledge on HIV/AIDS, tropical agriculture and climate and other sectors relevant to development cooperation with a focus on African experience.

I wish to point out to the Deputy that the decrease in the level of consultancy expenditure in 2009 is primarily due to the significant increase in the level of in-house specialised knowledge and technical experience acquired by Irish Aid from the beginning of the year. Pending finalisation of the Vote 29 budget allocation for 2010, I cannot be definitive on the anticipated level of spending on consultancies for the year. However, I can assure the Deputy that the expenditure will be constantly monitored to ensure that it does not exceed the level required for the proper management, oversight, monitoring, evaluation and audit of the aid programme.