John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount she has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if she is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9218/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The amount spent on external contracts by my Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is as follows:

In seeking to address the general category of outside consultants, the information set out above relates to external contracts placed by my Department for the provision of advice and expertise, and the undertaking of studies, surveys and other services. For example, included in the above are SLAN 07 (the National Health and Lifestyle Survey) and the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland (NLSCI), which involve the undertaking of a service rather than simply the provision of advice or expertise. Expenditure in areas such as this generates important publicly available information which can be used to monitor and assess the benefits of existing and potential health and social interventions.

More generally, it is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where it is felt to be appropriate and cost-effective, taking account of Government decisions and policy on the matter. All projects must have the prior approval of myself and the Department's Management Advisory Committee before any decision can be taken by any Division of the Department to go to public tender for the engagement of external consultants. Once initiated, the spend profile of each project is monitored by my Department on a monthly basis.