2018. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure incurred by his Government Department on external consultancy services in each of the past five years, broken down by consultancy firm, project and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61337/26]

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.

The procurement of consultancy services is essential in providing a 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.

A breakdown of the annual expenditure on external consultancy services in each of the past five years, broken down by consultancy firm, project and amount paid 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.

All contracts over €25,000 awarded by the Department are published quarterly on gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/collection/6d4953-procurement-contracts-awarded/.