Department of Health spent €20k on hiring potted plants

The department spent tens of thousands renting potted plants over a two year period.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Health spent almost €20,000 hiring potted plants over a two year period, it has emerged.

The department spent €9,902.34 during 2008 and €10,839.28 over the course of 2009 renting the plants.

However, recent savings made by the department in the area of procurement has meant the amount spent on potted plants was reduced to €3,309.12 last year. Overall, the savings made by the department is in excess of €180,000, reports Medical Independent.

The savings were reportedly made across a range of areas:

€29,000 a year on a new mobile phone contract
€12,000 savings per annum with a new fixed phone line contract
€90,000 a year (approximately) with a new catering contract
€9,000 as a result of reduced weekend opening hours
€8,000 a year as a result of reduced hire of potted plants
€10,000 per annum in energy
€16,500 per annum because of a revised cleaning contract
€4,500 with a revised off-site storage contract

Read June Shannon’s report in Medical Independent >

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