Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 318: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount paid out annually from public funds for outsourcing to private contractors and the use of consultants and agencies for all Departments of the civil and public service and State agencies; a breakdown of these figures in tabular form on a Department/authority/agency basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38259/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011 and therefore the information sought by the Deputy can only be provided from that date. The total amount paid to companies providing an external professional service to my Department from 2 June 2011 to 9 November 2011 was €698,503.

With regard to bodies within my Department's ambit, the Deputy will appreciate that the engagement of private contractors, consultants and agencies is part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. I am arranging, therefore, for the terms of the Deputy's Question to be transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information to the extent feasible directly to the Deputy.