Mr. Gerry D'Arcy:

The new millennium wing opened in 2002 and we required an additional 30 attendant and cleaning services staff to man that wing. At the same time, it was recognised by all parties that what has come to be known as the master development plan - the major refurbishment plan which has just commenced - was imminent. This meant a closure of those two wings with the result that staff were not needed to man those closed wings. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform decided we could take on the additional staff for the millennium wing on the basis that they could work until such time as the other two wings were closed, at which time we would not need those staff. That is the reason there was a need for a fixed term, specified purpose contract.