Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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131. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by her Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value-for-money objective of her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10016/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The following table sets out expenditure on external consultancy advice and legal services by the Department for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013:

Figures for 2013 are provisional and subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Legal costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.

Expenditure in 2012 represents 0.009% of total expenditure of €20.1 billion or 0.26% of total administration expenditure of €671 million.

The Department is committed to achieving value for money in the procurement of supplies and services essential to support its work in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner.