Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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625. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's use of external public relations firms since he came into office by year in tabular form; the uses of these firms and the policy regarding employing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43655/15]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reports he commissioned from external consultants since March 2011, by year, title, cost, date published and company in tabular form. [43671/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.

Details of all consultancy payments by the Department are available on my Department's website at .

It is the policy of the Department in the exercise of its functions to use internal resources as far as possible.  Consultants are hired occasionally in circumstances where particular expertise is not available internally and where it is deemed to add value and independence to the overall work of the Department.