Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to cost overruns on contracts within his Department with a value in excess of €10 million that came in more than 10% over budget in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8424/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a "Nil" response as it does not have any contracts with a value in excess of €10 million.

The total capital allocation for my Department across its two Votes – Vote 27: International Co-operation and Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade - is relatively modest compared to most other Government Departments. In the years covered by the Deputy's Question, the Department's total capital allocations, for Votes 27 and 28, were:

2016€ 5.75 million

2017€11.0 million

2018€13.0 million

2019€21.0 million

The main focus of capital investment in 2019 will be the cost of constructing and maintaining State properties overseas under the Global Ireland Initiative, the Passport Reform Programme and the continuing investment in ICT to support the Department’s global ICT network and Ireland’s participation at EXPO 2020.

Decisions on capital expenditure by the Department are consistent with value for money principles and where the investment will provide clear benefits for the State. In this regard, capital projects are closely monitored, at all stages of the contract, to seek to avoid any cost overruns.