335 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of expenditure on consultancy by her Department in 2003, 2004 and 2005; the number of consultants engaged by her Department in those years; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by her Department in these years and for the future. [41725/06]

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to expenditure on consultancy by my Department in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the number of consultants engaged is being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

In relation to the second part of the Deputy's question the procedure in place to engage consultants requires that a senior official of my Department must sign off on any proposal to engage outside consultants. These proposals consist of the details of the project, the nature of the assistance required, the rationale for engaging outside assistance and the anticipated cost. These requests must be submitted as early as possible in the project cycle and prior to tender or seeking proposals. This is in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Every proposal to engage outside assistance must also be submitted for individual sanction by myself as Minister.