Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of employees in his Department; the number professionally qualified with organisations (details supplied); the number with other relevant professional qualifications; and the number with no professional qualifications, in tabular form. [1894/19]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of employees in his Department authorised to engage in procurement; the number professionally qualified with organisations (details supplied); the number with other relevant professional qualifications; and the number with no professional qualifications, in tabular form. [1911/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.

My Department pays subscriptions for professional membership fees for staff as required for them to undertake their official duties. The Department currently pays professional membership fees for two staff for the bodies specifies in Table A.

In addition, the Department holds corporate membership with the Institute of Public Administration.

Table A

The procurement of goods and services within the Department takes place in the context of the Office of Government Procurement framework arrangements. All procurement must be authorised by the relevant budget holder, which in practical terms means that authorisation can take place at HEO level and above. Employees have authorised approval limits and all procurement expenditure must be certified and authorised by different individuals holding the appropriate authorisations.