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Stormont consultant fees top £100m Stormont consultant fees top £100m
(about 2 hours later)
By Gareth Gordon BBC Northern Ireland political correspondentBy Gareth Gordon BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent
Stormont departments have spent more than £100m in private consultancy fees in the past five years, according to figures obtained by the SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone.Stormont departments have spent more than £100m in private consultancy fees in the past five years, according to figures obtained by the SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone.
The dependence on outside consultants by the various Stormont departments has been heavily criticised.The dependence on outside consultants by the various Stormont departments has been heavily criticised.
Now we know just how much has been spent on them.Now we know just how much has been spent on them.
The biggest spender was the Department of Regional Development (DRD), which spent £34.5m over five years.The biggest spender was the Department of Regional Development (DRD), which spent £34.5m over five years.
A spokeswoman said much of these costs were related to the reform of water provision between 2004 and 2007, when the Water Service was an agency of the department.A spokeswoman said much of these costs were related to the reform of water provision between 2004 and 2007, when the Water Service was an agency of the department.
Next in the consultancy fee league was the Department of Finance which spent more than £21m.Next in the consultancy fee league was the Department of Finance which spent more than £21m.
It was followed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment which spent £15.5m over the same period.It was followed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment which spent £15.5m over the same period.
Even the lowest spending department, Employment and Learning, still used £2.7m of taxpayers' money on consultants.Even the lowest spending department, Employment and Learning, still used £2.7m of taxpayers' money on consultants.
The overall figure for the five-year period is £106m, with the Department of Health still to reveal how much it spent on outside consultants.The overall figure for the five-year period is £106m, with the Department of Health still to reveal how much it spent on outside consultants.
Mr McGlone said he was puzzled about why the figures were so high.Mr McGlone said he was puzzled about why the figures were so high.
"Of course there are occasions when you have to buy in specialist advice, but you get the impression that civil servants feel uncomfortable making decisions," he said."Of course there are occasions when you have to buy in specialist advice, but you get the impression that civil servants feel uncomfortable making decisions," he said.
"They commission consultants to outline options for them and if something goes wrong they can blame them.""They commission consultants to outline options for them and if something goes wrong they can blame them."
Private consultancy spending Department 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 OFMDFM £404,000 £830,000 £1,193,000 £2,758,000 £1,017,000 Environment £1,031,179 £1,292,223 £2,097,051 £2,131,030 £1,346,791 Education £765,799 £532,244 £905,600 £1,067,704 £665,009 DRD £7,439,749 £8,612,537 £15,938,633 £1,839,078 £781,444 Enterprise £3,206,000 £3,014,000 £3,232,000 £2,867,000 £3,291,000 Education £420,000 £620,000 £380,000 £600,000 £740,000 DSD £923,945 £719,511 £640,518 £760,597 £1,929,236 Culture £244,661 £197,378 £1,178,042 £3,373,393 £172,832 Finance, Agriculture and Health figures missing Private consultancy spending Department 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 OFMDFM £404,000 £830,000 £1,193,000 £2,758,000 £1,017,000 Environment £1,031,179 £1,292,223 £2,097,051 £2,131,030 £1,346,791 Education £765,799 £532,244 £905,600 £1,067,704 £665,009 DRD £7,439,749 £8,612,537 £15,938,633 £1,839,078 £781,444 Enterprise £3,206,000 £3,014,000 £3,232,000 £2,867,000 £3,291,000 Education £420,000 £620,000 £380,000 £600,000 £740,000 DSD £923,945 £719,511 £640,518 £760,597 £1,929,236 Culture £244,661 £197,378 £1,178,042 £3,373,393 £172,832 Finance £2,650,000 £2,510,000 £4,370,000 £6,630,000 £4,900,000 Agriculture £1,820,000 £340,000 £780,000 £480,121 £488,450