Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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331. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to carry out a full auditing review of the full cost of outsourcing in the public sector. [29524/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government is committed to exploring alternative service delivery models, including outsourcing, as part of an overall objective to improve the quality and efficiency of public services while ensuring they remain affordable and sustainable. This is a key component of the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, published in January 2014.

Each public body, in considering whether or not to outsource a service, is expected to evaluate the merits of such a decision on a case by case basis, taking into account a number of factors, including: overall cost, quality of service, effectiveness and the public interest. If the business case has not been made for the external delivery of a service, in a particular instance, then it stands to reason that such services should not be outsourced. I have no proposals to carry out a full audit given that this is the responsibility of the public body concerned. However, any costs incurred can be fully audited at any time by internal audit units and by the Comptroller and Auditor General.