Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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830. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7283/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health spent approximately €1.3 million on external consultants in 2019. It should be noted that not all invoices included hourly/daily rates, of those that did, the average hourly rate was €95 ex VAT. Where daily rates were quoted, a calculation was made based on a 7.5 hour working day.

The estimate for consultancy expenditure is set as part of the annual estimates process in the subhead A.7 and within the subhead H (Sláintecare). The value of approved consultancy projects within any calendar year does not exceed the value set in the estimates.

Staff involved in procurement in the Department must comply with all applicable EU and national procurement law and guidelines including the advice set out in the guidance note on “Ethics in Public Procurement” in relation to the disclosure of conflicts of interest.  In relation to tender competitions undertaken by the Department, tenderers are obliged to disclose any possible or potential conflicts of interest to the Department as soon as it becomes apparent.