Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
1302. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on external consultants by her Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7280/20]
View answerMy Department engages consultancy service providers (individuals or organisations) to provide analysis that contributes to policy development. The procurement of such services supports my Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost-effective manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory framework.
Details of all contracts awarded over €25k by the Department are published each quarter on gov.ie. In addition, details are also published on etenders and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in accordance with procurement guidelines and legislation. Expenditure is closely monitored to ensure value for money. Requests for Tender (RfTs) and contracts drawn up are in accordance with the Office of Government Procurement best practice. RfTs and draft contracts contain provisions to deal with conflict of interest, remedies for delays or breach of contract.
Some consultancy contracts comprise once-off fees while others are paid by daily rate. Therefore, I am advised that it is not possible to break down expenditure by the hour. Details of the amount spent on external consultants by my Department for the period in question (2019) is set out in tabular format as follows.
|
Name of Consultant |
Details of Consultancy |
Expenditure |
|
Crowe Advisory Ireland Limited |
Provision of Financial and Economic Services |
€12,238 |
|
Accenture |
System Development, Support and Maintenance of the Civil Registration Computer System |
€801,439 |
|
Deloitte |
Data Strategy Project |
€5,350 |
|
Mercer |
Actuarial Calculations for Waterford Crystal Pensions |
€1,491 |
|
Philip O’Reilly |
Review of Information Systems Division (ISD) Computer Operations |
€24,600 |
|
Working Time Solutions |
Shift Roster design options for ISD Computer Operations |
€23,124 |
|
Ruth Fitzgerald |
Legal advice to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection |
€8,140 |
|
PWC |
Data Specialist Services |
€44,472 |
|
Sonas Innovation |
Data Specialist Services |
€211,609 |
|
Demarq |
IT Administration |
€16,174 |
|
Stormlands Ltd |
IT Administration |
€922 |
|
Institute for Employment Studies and Social Finance |
Consultancy services in relation to Contracted Public Employment Services |
€123,318 (includes expenditure in 2020) |
|
Consult Hyperion |
Data Privacy Impact Assessments |
€128,192 |
|
INOU |
Pathways to Work Consultation |
€7,000 |
|
Research Matters |
Jobseeker and JobPath Customer Satisfaction Survey |
€23,431 |
|
Elizabeth Costello |
Social Inclusion Conference Report 2019 |
€2,600 |
|
Indecon |
Review of National Action Plan for Social Inclusion |
€90,824 |
|
ESRI |
Measurement and Analysis of Household Income and Living Conditions Research Programme |
€66,633 |
|
Total expenditure on consultancy in 2019 |
|
€ 1,591,557 |
