Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Health the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department. [28403/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Department has significantly reduced its spend on consultancy in recent years and all projects which involve the engagement of external consultants are approved by the Minister prior to the issuing of public tenders. Once initiated, the spend profile of each project is monitored by the Department on a monthly basis. It is expected that the total expenditure on consultancy fees for 2011 will be approximately €760,000, none of which relates to value for money initiatives.

The Department has put in place its own dedicated resources to undertake reviews under the auspices of the Value for Money & Policy Review Initiative 2009-2011. Last year, the Department completed a value for money review of private and semi-private treatment services in public hospitals. It is expected that implementation of the report's recommendations will result in increased revenues to the health service of approximately €75m in 2011 and approximately €18m in 2012. In addition to participating in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure as part of the overall pre-budget deliberations of the Government, the Department is also currently engaged in two further value for money reviews in the areas of disability services and immunisation programmes, both of which will further help to drive efficiency and effectiveness in the health sector.