Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of contracts that were issued to consultancy firms by his Department in 2011; the number that were issued in the first quarter in 2012; the cost of each contract and to whom they were issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19173/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department is responsible for two Votes: Vote 27, International Cooperation and Vote 28, Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Department is very conscious of the need the achieve value for money and is in full compliance with national and EU procurement regulations. A table outlining the contracts to consultancy firms for 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 is provided below. The vast majority of the contracts are consultancy services for Irish Aid. Given the overall scale, range and diversity of the Irish Aid programme, as well as the firm commitment to the highest quality, accountability and evaluation, it is necessary to complement the in-house capacity with specialised skills and advice. External consultants are engaged only where specialised knowledge and skills are not available within the Department and where independent appraisal, audit, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects is required. A key criterion in the selection of professional service providers is the extent to which they can provide value for money for the taxpayer. The level of expenditure on consultancy services is 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.