Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23955/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education & Skills utilises the services of the Public Appointments Service (PAS) which was established under the terms of the Public Services Management Act 2004 and is mandated to recruit staff to the Civil Service.

In relation to top level management positions competitions for these are conducted by the Committee on Top Level Appointments in the Civil Service (TLAC). The costs of such competitions are met by PAS and TLAC respectively.

In 2016 three promotional competitions were held for the following professional grades:

Inspectorate

Senior School Inspector

National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

Regional Director

Senior Educational Psychologist

A feature of such competitions is that one interview board member is an expert engaged from outside the Department. In 2016 a total sum of €2,103.38 was paid to external interview board members. In 2016 my Department did not engage any external expertise to address any industrial relations matters.

My Department does not hold the information sought by the Deputy centrally on the bodies under its aegis. Officials at my Department have requested the information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.