Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the economic expertise which is available to advise him within his Department. [47362/12]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has officials or advisors within his own Department with expertise in economics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49718/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.

In addition to those staff, spread throughout my Department, with expertise and qualifications in economics, the Government decided in May this year to supplement this expertise by setting up the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). The work of the Service will support Departments in evaluating policy and expenditure options; value for money exercises; cost benefit and regulatory impact analyses; and regulatory and competition issues.

Candidates with postgraduate economic qualifications were targeted through an Administrative Officer (Economist) competition run by the Public Appointments Service earlier this year.

Some 27 staff were initially recruited under an Administrative Officer (economist) competition run by the Public Appointments Service, 15 of whom have taken up positions in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These recruits will supplement the existing expertise already within my Department, including that of the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit.