Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to his Department if spending on professional fees, including but not limited to legal, information technology related, accountancy and other advisory and consultancy fees, was reduced by 10%. [26626/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In response to the Deputy's question the total cost of professional fees during 2014 was €2,494,281.  The annual saving to the Exchequer based on a reduction of 10% would be €249,428.  (Payments are inclusive of VAT where applicable.)

My Department ensures that every effort is made to limit the use of consultants where possible.  All contracts are negotiated with a view to achieving best value for money and are kept under review to ensure this is maintained.  When the use of consultants is unavoidable the staff in my Department ensure appropriate skills transfer to reduce the requirement for consultants going forward.

I understand the Office of Public Works will be contacting you directly with their response.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to his Department if spending on education and training was reduced by 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. [26627/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.  The learning and development budget for my Department in 2015 is €350,000.  The overriding objective of learning and development as set out in the Department's Learning and Development Strategy is to implement initiatives which are fully aligned with our business priorities and provide an array of opportunities for all staff to develop and reach their full potential.  Expenditure on staff learning and development in my Department is a valuable investment.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if all Department spending on travel was reduced by 2.5%, 5% and 10%. [26628/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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My Department does not normally collect information on overall figures for travel and subsistence in the civil and wider public service. However, in 2013 my Department carried out an analysis of spending on travel and subsistence expenditure across the Civil and Public Service. The analysis covered spending in the years 2011 and 2012 and is the most recent public service-wide analysis.

The following table shows spending in the categories of Domestic Subsistence, Foreign Subsistence and Motor Travel for 2012 and also shows the amount equivalent to a reduction of 2.5%, 5% and 10% on these figures.

The Deputy may wish to note that certain changes in subsistence arrangements come into effect from 1 July 2015. In summary, these arrangements provide that an overnight allowance will not generally be payable in respect of a necessary absence on official business that is within 100 km of an officer's home or headquarters (whichever is the lesser) and a day allowance is not payable for an absence on official business that is within 8 km of an officer's headquarters or home (whichever is the lesser). It is envisaged that the new arrangements will result in savings of approximately €7 million.