Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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149. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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. [52234/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department replied to 1,806 Parliamentary Questions in 2017 and has replied to 1,562 in 2018 to date. A figure for the number of Questions answered in 2016 is not readily available due to the introduction of a new ICT system for PQ administration at the end of 2016.

All Parliamentary Questions submitted to my Department are answered directly and Questions are not referred to bodies or agencies for direct reply. Where necessary input to replies is sought from agencies under the aegis of the Department.

The Secretary General's Office manage the administration of Parliamentary Questions in the Department, in addition to other duties. There are currently three members of staff assigned to the Office (excluding the Secretary General). All Questions received in the Department are forwarded to the relevant Division to prepare replies. Replies are then reviewed by myself and my Special Advisers or the Ministers of State and their Advisers.

No external advisors, public affairs or public relations companies have been involved in the preparation of replies to Parliamentary Questions.