Figures revealed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has revealed that spending by the Department on IT services ran into the millions over the past year.
Between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014, the Department spent a total of €2.44 million with Version 1, as well as €2.06 million with System Dynamics, €1.32 million with The Icon Group, €1.03 million with Vantage Resources, €596k with IT Alliance Outsourcing, €551k with Janix Ltd and €420k with SMDT Ltd; all providers of IT services.
The figures also reveal that the Department spent €1.35 million with management consulting firm Accenture and €605k with Deloitte.
A total of €592k was spent on the Teagasc Food Research Centre, in Ashtown, Dublin, while €222k was spent with Identigen Ltd, provider of DNA-based food traceability services.
The figures were revealed following a question from Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald TD, who requested a list of all professional fees by the Department, "including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT-related, advisory, advertising and accountancy" over the period in question.
