Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1220. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure on consultancy and contractors by the Irish Aviation Authority in each of the years from 2015 to 2017, respectively; the number of consultants and contractors engaged by the authority in these years; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps taken to reduce expenditure on consultancy and contractors and the authority's reliance on them in the years in question and for the future. [15185/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The issues raised  are operational matters for the Irish Aviation Authority.  I have referred the Deputy's question to the Company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1221. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure on consultancy and contractors by the Commission for Aviation Regulation in each of the years from 2015 to 2017, respectively; the number of consultants and contractors engaged by the commission in the years in question; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps taken to reduce expenditure on consultancy and contractors and the commission's reliance on them in the years in question and for the future. [15186/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The issues raised are operational matters for the Commission for Aviation Regulation.  I have referred the Deputy's question to the Commission for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1222. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure on consultancy and contractors by the National Roads Authority in each of the years from 2015 to 2017, respectively; the number of consultants and contractors engaged by the authority in the years in question; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps taken to reduce expenditure on consultancy and contractors and the authority's reliance on them in the years in question and for the future. [15187/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and operation of the national road network, including the engagement of consultants and contractors, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1223. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expenditure on consultancy by his Department in each of the years from 2015 to 2017, inclusive; the number of consultants engaged by his Department in the years in question; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps taken to reduce expenditure on consultancy and the Department's reliance on consultants in the years in question and for the future. [15194/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Details of all consultancy payments by the Department are available on my Department's website: www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.

The website is updated on a six monthly basis and the second six months for 2017 will be available shortly.

It is the policy of the Department in the exercise of its function to use internal resources as far as possible. However, external 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.

My Department is constantly looking at ways to upskill internal staff to minimise the need to use external consultants.  All administrative budget expenditure within my Department is undertaken in accordance with public financial procedures.