HSA spent €1m a year on consultants during boom years

THE Health and Safety Authority was spending almost €1 million a year on consultants during the boom but reduced the bill by 80% when its budget was cut.

The money was spent on legal fees, human resources, software services, security providers and private investigators.

In 2005 alone, the bill was €1,520,228. Three companies earned more than €200,000 each from their dealings with the authority.