Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018
183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years March 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the cost of same; the company involved; and the title and publication date by report in tabular form. [50094/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of consultancy payments made by my Department for the years 2011 to 2017 inclusive are available on the Department's website: https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Financial-Reports/Expenditure-on-Consultancy.
Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. The data in respect of 2018 will be available in early 2019.
It is the policy of my Department to minimise to the greatest extent possible the use of external consultancy. However, external consultants are hired occasionally in circumstances where particular expertise is not available internally and where it is deemed to add value to the overall work of the Department. My Department continues to monitor proposals to engage external consultants to ensure value for money.
