Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form per annum all external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [28850/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework.

The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) including the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the below table. I am satisfied that the engagement of consultants provides valuable support to the Department and that the reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals produced contribute to decision making and policy making and is compliant with best practice in realising value for money.