Sinn Féin criticises spending on post-bailout plan

Sinn Féin has criticised the Government’s use of external consultants in the preparation of the post-bailout economic plan.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan confirmed in response to a parliamentary question from Pearse Doherty, the party's finance spokesman, around €70,000 was spend in preparation for the plan.

The Economic and Social Research Institute was given two contracts, one worth €28,750 and a smaller one worth €3,759.

Another contract went to PMCA Economic Consultants, to assist in the preparation of the post bailout plan, and to analysis similar strategies comparable to Ireland.

PMCA had the “lowest cost proposal”, according to Mr Noonan, and the total contract, excluding VAT, was worth €39,873.

A local authority carried out a design scheme to ensure the plan's "message and goals are communicated with maximum clarity to the widest possible readership in Ireland and abroad". The Department of Finance was not charged for this work.

Mr Doherty said the Department of Finance should have been able to do the work internally.

“We have to ask why the Government still thinks it’s necessary to pay two external consultant bodies over €70,000 to write this plan,” he said.

“Of even more concern is that the Government has shown itself willing to engage extensively only with certain sections of society in its economic strategising. Those sections include those in the finance sector and business. It has not engaged with the people who have borne the brunt of this crisis.”