Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
909. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by his Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57292/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes its annual consultancy spend on the Department website.
Please find a copy of the link to the Department's consultancy spent is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/organisation-information/department-consultancy-spending/.
The Deputy will note the names of companies whose services were procured and the costs spent in each year. The website also states whether any reports commissioned were for either publication and/or for internal use within the Department.
The Deputy should note that the publications are currently recorded up to 2023.
2024 figures will be published online by the end of October.
Consultancy spend is published in arrears annually, in line with the accounts process.
DFHERIS has now taken ownership of recording departmental consultancy spend, as part of the transfer of functions from the Department of Education.
We would plan to publish 2025 Consultancy Spend by the end of Q1 2026.
Expenditure on external consultancy and adviser fees is not separately disclosed in the Department’s Financial Statements as there is no obligation to do so.
The procurement of such services has been conducted by my Department in compliance with the applicable public procurement regulations and competitive tendering requirements, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Office of Government Procurement OGP and relevant EU and national legislation.
