Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of contracts awarded by her to outside consultants in respect of each year since 2000; the recipient of the contract in each case; the work covered by the contract; the original estimate of the cost of the contract; the final amount paid in respect of each such contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28780/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated within my Department and will be made available shortly.

My Department applies stringent controls on the employment of external consultancy assistance. A business case must be prepared to support the need for the consultancy and approved at either principal officer or MAC level as appropriate. Funding to support the procurement, which can be project specific or from within the Department's administrative budget, must be identified and approved before any commitment is made. The procurement of all consultancies must comply with public procurement law, which covers such items as European rules, and also must comply with national guidelines. Once awarded, the procurement contract must then be managed in accordance with the Department's best practice protocols.

Deputies will also be aware that, in addition to measures to ensure the appropriate use of consultancy assistance across the Civil Service as announced by the Government last week, I have recently introduced measures within my own Department to ensure that all such contracts receive my approval.