Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT-related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 May 2011 and 31 December 2013. [1915/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to inform the Deputy at the outset that it is the policy of my Department to minimise to the greatest extent possible, professional fees.

For the purposes of this response I have taken professional fees to refer to accountable persons from whom Professional Services Withholding Tax has been deducted in respect of professional services provided. The list provided contains a wide range of services provided to the Department which includes but is not limited to legal, consultancy, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy costs. The list, for example, includes payments related to research, consultation with children, interview board participation, industrial relations mediation, expert evidence, national and international expert participation in groups, investigations and publication. I would further note that in line with the aforementioned policy to minimise external professional costs, IT support for my Department is provided by the Department of Health.

The information which you requested is outlined below in tabular form excluding VAT. As my Department was established on 2 June 2011 information is provided from that date.

Departmental Expenditure