Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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475. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will name each company awarded a contract for the provision of professional services by his Department and agencies under his aegis since May 2011; the value and purpose of the contract; if a competitive tendering process was undertaken in line with public procurement best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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External professional services are procured by my Department only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department. The table below sets out the list of suppliers to my Department of professional services, i.e. where professional services withholding tax has been applied, and the contract value of each, from May 2011 to January 2014.

** This contract was not subject to a competitive tender process as a unique skill set was required for completing the Safety Management System Audit.

Against the background of the difficulty experienced in recruiting doctors to the Defence Forces, it has been necessary to utilise alternative options for the provision of medical services to the Defence Forces, including the engagement, as required, of external medical practices to provide services. In the period May 2011 to Jan 2014 a total of €9,357,734 was paid to external practices to provide medical and para medical services to military personnel. An integrated model for the provision of the required medical/para medical services, involving both the Medical Corps and outsourced service provision, is being progressed.

My Department adheres to the standards set out in the Public Procurement rules & guidelines in awarding contracts, and I am satisfied that procurement of professional services is carried out in an open and transparent manner and in line with National and EU Public Procurement Guidelines.