Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1304. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35377/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
Details of payments made in respect of consultancy contracts for the years 2012-2017 are provided at the following link. Contracts are not generally awarded on the basis of hourly rates.
