Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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852. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the process through which her Department drafts and produces legislation; if her Department outsources the drafting of legislation; if so, the Bills for which the drafting was outsourced since she took office; and the costs associated with the drafting of each Bill. [14416/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the drafting of Government legislation is the responsibility of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) to the Government. All Bills sponsored by my Department are drafted by the OPC.

The preparation of a general scheme of a Bill is a matter for the relevant section of my Department and this work is progressed by the Department, taking account of the policy and legal issues that may arise. When the general scheme of a  Bill is has been approved by Government, the OPC commences drafting the Bill.

My Department avails of the services of the OPC in drafting legislation and does not engage legislative drafting expertise outside of those services.