James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status, in view of the pressure on public finances and the need to make real savings particularly in non-front line areas, of an invitation to tender for the provision of corporate legal services issued by Health Service Executive procurement on 18 April 2008; if negotiations have progressed with preferred tenderers; when the tender is expected to be awarded; the amount the HSE has spent to date on the tender process, in terms of both internal costs and external consultancy and legal advisory costs; the anticipated savings that the HSE will achieve in relation to HSE corporate legal services if the most competitively priced tender is awarded, based on the cost of legal services paid for by the State during 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1660/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Clearly, the current fiscal position demands the most careful control of public expenditure and I am strongly of the view that account needs to be taken of all emerging potential cost pressures and also opportunities for efficiencies. I am very conscious of the need to make savings where possible without impacting on service levels and have consistently communicated this need to the HSE. As part of a multi-annual approach to value for money announced by me in the context of the Budget, a range of value for money measures has been outlined in the HSE Service Plan 2009, of which legal services procurement is just one element. I understand that the tender process referred to by the Deputy is a significant part of the HSE strategy to achieve savings in legal costs.

Operational responsibility for the management of value for money and procurement is a matter for the Health Service Executive as funding for its support services has been provided for as part of its overall Vote. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a more detailed reply issued directly to the Deputy on the specific matter raised.