David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Connolly hit the nail on the head. When we refer to money spent on consultancy, some of it will need to be spent. We are not stating there is no place at all for spending on outside consultancy. The volume and the repetition involved is a worry, however. Leaving aside the definition of what consultancy work is, I imagine a shocking amount of money is spent in any given year. It would be far cheaper if a unit existed within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, or some other Department, to give these organisations the assistance they need, whether with change management, strategic development or finance.