Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department in each year since March 2011; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54242/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The engagement of external expertise is considered where the matters involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department. Such engagement is procured in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Finance "Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants and other External Support by the Civil Service".

The information sought by the Deputy in respect of the period from 2014 to 2016 is set out in the table below. This information is not readily available for the period prior to 2014. The information in relation to 2017 will be collated in early 2018 and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it has been compiled.