Written answers
Thursday, 6 February 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Departmental Contracts
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
162. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3790/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Consultancy is defined by the Department of Finance as where a person or organisation provides intellectual or knowledge-based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc. that contribute to decision making or policy development.
Details as requested by the Deputy are set out below.
Consultants enlisted by the Department of Social Protection in 2023 & 2024.
| Contractor | Purpose | Value and duration of each contract |
|---|---|---|
| KOSI corporation | Provision of Cost and Management Accounting Services | February 20242 years €347,106 |
| KPMG | Strategic Workforce Planning Consultancy | April 20243 years€1,681,355 |
MCCP | Consultancy to Support a Refresh/Review of DSP Values | September 20241 year€239,439 |
| Indecon International Economic Consultants | Review of the Local Area Employment Service | October 20249 months€123,000 |
| Social Finance Limited | Consultancy for Employment Service for people with a disability | February 202318 months€30,750 |
| Price Waterhouse Coopers | Accounting, Audit and Financial Advisory Services | June 20232 years€99,630 |
| Mazars | IS Audit Services | November 20233 years€161,438 |
| Align Advisory Ltd | Interim Central Processing Authority Development Work for Investment Consultancy Services for the Auto-Enrolment Project | December 20236 Months€50,000 |
The details above relate to contracts awarded in 2023 and 2024. A breakdown of the annual expenditure on consultancy is published on the Gov.ie website at: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/48366f-department-of-employment-affairs-and-social-protection-policy-on-pro/#what-we-purchase
Consultants enlisted by the Pensions Authority in 2023 & 2024
| Name of Consultant | Purpose | Value and duration of each contract |
|---|---|---|
| PwC Ireland | Pensions and regulatory consultancy | May 2024Once off consultancy€6,090 |
| D3P Global | Pension scheme supervision consultancy services | October 20244 years €492,000 |
| Quietroom | Consultancy on development of a supervisory communications strategy | May 2023Once off consultancy €5,000 |
| Lisney Ltd | Professional Estate Agent advice on sourcing new office space due to current lease expiring | May 20234 Years €123,000 |
| Eversheds Sutherland | Provision of Legal Advisory Services to the Pensions Authority | December 20224 Years€199,493.70 |
| A&L Goodbody | Provision of Legal Advisory Services to the Pensions Authority | December 20224 Years€179,940.83 |
| Mason, Hayes & Curran | Provision of Legal Advisory Services to the Pensions Authority | December 20224 Years€90,097.50 |
| McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors | Provision of Legal Advisory Services to the Pensions Authority | December 20224 Years€7,995.00 |
| Bid Services | Procurement consultancy | June 20234 Years€24,600 |
| Byrne Wallace LLP | Employment Law advisory services | September 20234 years€49,200 |
Consultants enlisted by the Pensions Council in 2023 & 2024
| Name of Consultant | Purpose | Value and duration of each contract |
|---|---|---|
| Paragon Research Limited | Review of Alternative Auto-enrolment Proposal | July 20236 months€50,430 |
| KPMG Global Strategy Group | Report on Retirement Living Standards | November 2023 9 Months€98,000 |
Consultants enlisted by the Citizens Information Board in 2023 & 2024
| Name of Consultant | Purpose | Value and duration of each contract |
|---|---|---|
| Adare HRM | HR Consultancy | 4 years from 2024 €25,000 |
| CA Compliance Limited | Governance and HR Compliance services | 4 years from 2024 €25,000 |
| Cushman & Wakefield | Property valuation services | January 2024Once off€9,225 |
| Indecon | Service evaluation and development of a Service User Impact Framework | Service evaluation – Once off 2024€61,500. Service User Impact 2 years from 2024, €169,895 (Net of VAT). |
| Innovative Procurement Solutions | Procurement advice and support | 4 years from 2024,€100,000 (Net of VAT). |
| Joe McDermott | IR support | 4 years from 2023 €25,000 (Net of VAT). |
| Kevin Duffy | IR support | 4 years from 2024, €25,000 (Net of VAT). |
| Morley Economic Consulting | Research Social policy insight reports | November 2024Once off €23,247. |
| Murray Consultants | Communications support | 4 years from 2024, €320,000 (Net of VAT). |
| QRE | Outsourced rent reviews | August 2024Once off €18,450. |
| Risk and Resilience Ltd | Business continuity plan consultancy | September 2024Once off €32,560 (Net of VAT). |
| Symmetry Solutions Limited | Data protection services | September 2024Once off €6,150. |
| The 4OC Limited | Digital strategy development | 2 years from 2024€92,700 (Net of VAT). |
| Acrux Consulting Ltd | Mediation services | October 2023Once off €2,542. |
| Bearingpoint | Consultancy services | 2 years from 2022€144,000 (Net of VAT). |
| Carr Communications | Communications support | 2023€7,085 |
| Innovative Procurement Solutions | Procurement advice and support | 4 years from 2024€100,000 (Net of VAT). |
| Lionheart Mgmt Consultants Ltd | Board evaluation | March 2023Once off €22,140. |
| Lisney | Property valuation services | March 2023Once off €4,059 |
| QRE | Outsourced rent reviews | November 2023Once off €10,455. |
| Public Authority Pension Services | Outsourced pensions advice | 4 years from 2022€25,000 (Net of VAT) |
| Holmes O Malley Sexton | Legal services to CIB | 4 years from 2022€100,000 (Net of VAT) |
The procurement of consultancy services is essential to support my Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. All expenditure is closely monitored, and companies are only engaged for essential work, following a rigorous assessment of need and where the required competencies do not exist in-house.
No comments