Clare County Council’s spend on consultancy fees has jumped more than threefold since 2017.
New figures seen by Clare FM show €5.5 million was spent by the local authority on outside expertise last year.
Data received following a Freedom of Information request shows back in 2017, Clare County Council spent €1.6 million on advice and assistance from consultants.
That number nearly doubled in 2018 to €3.2 million, and by 2020 had reached almost €4.4 million.
Last year saw another 25 percent jump on the Council’s expenditure on outside experts, amounting to more than €5.5 million.
The largest individual spend in 2021 was on consultants for what’s described as ‘library service operation and maintenance’ which saw €914,000 spread across 13 different companies and individuals.
A significant portion of this is said to relate to the new County Library project in Ennis, with contracts for that signed back in May.
A further €580,000 was spent on experts regarding the Shannon Bridge crossing, with another €540,000 dished out on the Inis Cealtra project.
The Council amassed a €512,000 last year on consultants relating to the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre.
The local authority’s told Clare FM that outside expertise can be needed ‘where the project may be once off and may not warrant the permanent skill in house over the long term, or where there is a specialist requirement for the project.’
The Council says it’s ‘committed to providing professional and effective management of capital development’ and to ‘achieving the optimum value for money’.
Statement from Clare County Council:
‘The reasons for the use of external service providers by Clare County Council are multifactorial. Expertise is procured from a combination of in-house expertise from experienced staff and/or outsourced services where the project may be once off and may not warrant the permanent skill in house over the long term, or where there is a specialist requirement for the project.
The spend on capital projects is dependent on the overall capital programme. Overall, in total, capital expenditure increased by 220% from 2017 to 2021. In 2017, the Council expended €36.1m, increasing to €78.2m in 2021.
The increase at an overall level was 25% in 2021 over 2020 spend. The increase in 2021 is explained by the progression of major projects such as the Ennis Library project, Inis Cealtra development and various flood relief measures in the county.
Capital projects are by their nature grant funded in the main and not a cost to the Council’s revenue budget.
Clare County Council is committed to providing professional and effective management of capital development in line with the Council’s strategic plans consistent with best design and building practices, safeguarding the built heritage and achieving optimum value for money.’
