Jack Chambers
Ceist:1278. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her Department's expenditure on external consultancy in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34258/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (1278)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department spent €1,133,297 on external consultancy, value for money and policy reviews in 2017.
To date in 2018, my Department has spent €459,084 on external consultancy, value for money and policy reviews.
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.