Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
520. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department, including payments from ministerial allowances, details of the consultants employed and costs of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37627/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince February 2011, the following amounts were paid to external consultants in respect of reports commissioned by my Department: €615 was paid to Davy Corporate Finance in respect of a study carried out for the Department on options for the next National Lottery licence; €1,210 was paid to Mercer in respect of data used for input to the Organisational Review Programme; €41,043 was paid to RedC in respect of a post-Referendum (Oireachtas Inquiries) survey conducted for the Department, as discussed at Joint Oireachtas Committee of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform; and €30,750 was paid to Accenture in respect of the Procurement Review published on the Department's website. With regard to Ministerial allowances, the Deputy will be aware that these are block payments which can, within certain guidelines laid down by the Standards in Public Office Commission, be used at the discretion of the Minister. However, I have not used any such funds available for this purpose.
