Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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113. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the breakdown of the training and development and incidental expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22141/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department supports the continuous learning and development of its officers through the implementation of a broad range of training and professional development programmes. Learning and Development related expenditure in my Department under Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) during 2017 amounted to €608,173 and covered:

The provision of training & development courses for staff of all grades including those based at HQ and at missions abroad.

Language training accounts for approximately one third of my Department’s training and development expenditure and in 2017 my Department invested €227,833 on language training for:

officers based both at HQ and at Missions abroad.

Non-language training expenditure included payment of fees for a range of third level courses, through the Department of Finance Refund of Fees Scheme, undertaken by 27 officers in the Department in their own time for a total amount of €144,985

Attendance at seminars and conferences relevant to the work of my Department: Trainer Fees, materials, equipment and miscellaneous expenditure was €132,836.

Expenditure on incidental expenses such as airfares and other official travel costs, accommodation costs and room hire.

Learning and Development related expenditure in my Department under Vote 27 (International Cooperation) during 2017 amounted to €175,996 and covered:

- The provision of training & development courses for staff of all grades including those based at HQ and at missions abroad.

For Vote 27, language training accounts for approximately €28,889 for staff at all grades including HQ, posted and local staff.

Non-language training expenditure included payment of fees for a range of third level courses amounted to €47,318 in 2017.

Costs for attendance at seminars and conferences relevant to the work of my Department under Vote 27 amounted to €6,555.

Trainer Fees, materials, equipment and miscellaneous expenditure was €93,234.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the breakdown of the travel and subsistence expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22157/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 - International Co-operation. The table sets out the breakdown of travel and subsistence costs across both Votes incurred in the year ending 31December 2017. This does not include the spend on travel by the Department’s overseas Mission network.

My Department complies with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on official travel. The central aim of the Departmental travel policy is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with the effective discharge of official duties.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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115. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consultancy services, value for money and policy review expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22173/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).

The Department seeks to minimise expenditure on consultants andcommissions external expertise only in areas where highly specialised skills are not available internally. In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has informed, and continues to inform the Department’s policies, allowing for a more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets. These services are procured by open competitive tendering processes in accordance with EU and national rules and comply with the overall value for money objective of the Department.

Internal reports and reviews are undertaken on an ongoing basis and cover a wide range of topics and issues as required by the work of the Department.

The consultancy services, value for money and policy review expenses incurred by my Department in the year ending 31 December 2017 were €307,773.