Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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219. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the expenditure on consultancy by his Department; the number of consultants engaged by his Department in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by his Department in these years and for the future. [18950/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The total amount of expenditure by my Department from its consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews budget in the years 2011 to 2014 is set out in the following table.

In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary. Furthermore, in relation to the competitive tendering for contracts, my Department adheres to relevant national and EU public procurement rules.

Given the technical complexity of the sectors which my Department oversees and, in some instances regulates, there is a requirement to procure specialised services and advice to address specific issues as they arise. The Department therefore also necessarily incurs fees for professional services as part of its programme expenditure. The table below outlines details of programme expenditure on professional services, as defined by the deduction of withholding tax, for the period 2011 to 2014:

The number of companies engaged over the four years specified is 197 and their names are set out in the attached lists.

My Department will continue to keep spending on all consultancy/professional services to a minimum consistent with ensuring the necessary expertise is available to discharge the Department’s wide and complex brief.

Companies – Admin Consultancy Services

Consultancy Spend 2011 to 2014

Companies – Programme Professional Services

Professional Services 2011 to 2014