Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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207. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by his 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 his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10006/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department uses private contractors, consultants and agencies to provide certain services when such an approach is more cost effective. This can include services such as specialised laboratory services, computer services, legal advice or independent auditing services. The total expenditure for these services was €1,956,784 in 2011, €1,192,211 in 2012 and €1,698,615 in 2013, details of which are given in the link.