Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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918. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has engaged the use of external consultants from 1 January 2020 to date; the details and costs of such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5525/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief.  Its remit includes oversight of very complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy, environment, climate change and public broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration.  Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, it is necessary that my Department, from time to time, procure specialist external professional advice to enable it to discharge its responsibility to deliver quality services and protect the interests of the State and the taxpayer.  In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary.

The information requested in relation to my Department is outlined in the following table.

External Consultants engaged from 1 January 2020 to date;