Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

204. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average cost of a private consultant report for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41284/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that the cost of a report from a consultancy company is completely dependent on the nature of the report commissioned. It is therefore not possible to provide an average cost that is in any way meaningful. To illustrate the point, the table attached sets out a list of all studies, research and reports externally commissioned by my Department since 2020, which was provided in response to a Parliamentary Question last week. As the Deputy will note, the cost varies very significantly based on the subject matter and nature of the report, the number of phases of work, overall duration, etc. I hope that this information will provide useful context for the Deputy.