John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Taoiseach the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9221/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Details of the amount spent by my Department on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is set out in the following table. This data includes consultancy expenditure recouped from the Change Management Fund in the Department of Finance.

Every effort is made by my Department to minimise expenditure on consultancy services. However, where it is necessary to engage consultants in order to avail of their particular expertise or experience, the procurement of consultancy services is subject to Public Procurement Guidelines and, where applicable, EU procurement rules and guidelines, with selection criteria geared to select the most economically advantageous tender. It is also our policy that skills transfer from consultants to Departmental staff takes place as an integral part of all consultancy engagements. The purpose of this is to increase the knowledge and expertise of Departmental staff and to reduce and, if possible, eliminate future dependence on consultants in the areas concerned.