Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2018
286. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the consultancy services, value for money and policy review expenses incurred by her Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22165/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department spent €1,133,297 on external consultancy, value for money and policy reviews in 2017.
My Department considers hiring external consultants in cases where there is not the necessary expertise to deliver the project in-house, in cases where an external assessment is deemed essential, or in cases where a project must be completed within a short time scale, and although the expertise or experience may be available in-house, performing the task would involve a prohibitive opportunity cost.
In each particular case, criteria specific to the project are used in selecting an outside agency or consultancy, including cost and value for money. Contracts are awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender (specifying, in addition to price, various other criteria including running costs, servicing costs, level of after sales service, technical assistance, technical merit, environmental characteristics).
My Department complies with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's guidelines for engagements of consultants by the civil service, having regard to public procurement guidelines.
