Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of parliamentary questions his Department has processed in the past three years to date; the number of questions answered directly; the number of questions referred to bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department for direct reply; the number of staff who are assigned to his parliamentary questions section; and if non-departmental staff, advisers and-or public affairs and relations companies have composed parliamentary question replies or had an act or hand in forming parliamentary question replies in the timeframe specified. [52239/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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For the Deputy’s information, the following number of Parliamentary Questions were processed by my Department for the timeframe 2016 to end November 2018.

2016: 55 oral and 3,042 written Parliamentary Questions

2017: 94 oral and 4,927 written Parliamentary Questions.

2018: 78 oral and 4475 written Parliamentary Questions (end November)

As part of their duties, three Clerical Officers assigned to the Office of the Secretary General manage and co-ordinate the processing of Parliamentary Questions in my Department. Relevant officials who deal with the particular issues raised in Parliamentary Questions draft responses that are then submitted for approval.  Parliamentary Questions are not referred to external companies nor are they referred to aegis bodies for direct reply.

The Deputy will note that my Department receives a significant number of Parliamentary Questions annually and this provides me, as Minister, with regular opportunities to report publicly on matters for which I am accountable. On occasions, and when appropriate, advisers may input into a response on my behalf.