Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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392. To ask the Minister for Defence the total amount spent on external information technology consultants by his Department in each of the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23449/15]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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395. To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department has re-negotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 395 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total amount of expenditure on external IT consultants by my Department, in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and in 2015 to date is set out in the following table.

My Department is always mindful of the costs involved in engaging consultants. External consultants are engaged only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise and following a rigorous examination of skills and resources available in-house.

The objective of using outside consultants is to ensure that my Department achieves value for money by implementing recommendations for improvements in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.

My Department adheres to the standards set out in the Public Procurement rules & guidelines in awarding contracts. My Department has not re-negotiated any external IT consultancy contracts or costs since March 2011. Multi-annual contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure best value for money and are extended, within the terms of the contract awarded, provided that the quality of service required by my Department is being met.