Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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434. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of consultants to his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will provide an outline of the role of each. [18888/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary.

External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money.

Such external expertise may involve the provision of specialised reports, expert analysis or expert technical services to the Department.

A small number of consultancies are engaged directly by our Missions abroad from time to time and in some instances they prepare technical reports relating to Ireland’s overseas development aid programme.

My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).

My Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) focusing especially on achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of different categories of supplies and services.

The table below details the amount spent on consultancy services by my Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022.