David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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308. To ask the Minister for Health the total value of consultancy costs for his Department and the HSE in the year to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51775/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department's total expenditure in the A7 subhead consultancy for the year 2021 to date is as per the table attached.It is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and, in particular, when such an approach is felt to be more appropriate and cost-effective.

The tables outlines the total amount spent on external consultants to 20th October 2021. While some contacts are negotiated on the basis of a daily and hourly rate, others are paid a fee on the basis of reaching a number of milestones during the process and in some case producing a report. I have asked the HSE to revert to you in relation to its consultancy spend.