Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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I will mention briefly the consultancy stuff as members now are dealing with other sections. Spending for heads C, D and E has gone from €161,000, €101,000 and €101,000, respectively, to €575,000, €630,000 and €490,000, respectively. This seems like a runaway train. While I acknowledge these are only Estimates that are being provided for, this does not pertain to legal fees but is policy driven. I do not believe the same latitude was given to the Department of Health to simply throw in an additional couple of million euro here, there or wherever, or an additional 20% increase. In some cases provision is being made here for 100% increases, just in case the need arises, and this is not the way in which budgets are done.

In respect of committees and commissions, I refer to the disabled drivers medical board of appeal. I understand that €330,000 has been provided just for that board and it does not relate to the relief those who avail of the scheme receive. While the Minister mentioned that fees and salaries have been reduced over the last couple of years, yet it is increasing by approximately €5,000. However, it would be interesting to get a breakdown of the €330,000 to the board members in respect of their fees and salaries. I am unsure how many such board members there are.

While there is material I could go into in respect of consultants, I understand the Chair wishes to move on. However, I ask the Minister to focus on subhead D3 and while considering D3, there should be a reference to subhead A3. This is because under the consultancy and other services heading, there is an increase from €101,000 to €630,000. The Minister has provided a breakdown of the allocation, the first item of which is €350,000 in respect of the medium-term economic strategy driven from the economics division. However, when members were provided with a breakdown of the consultancy services under subhead A3, under that category there also is €350,000 for the development and implementation of the medium-term economic strategy. Why are two different subcategories of the same Department each charging a cost of €350,000 in consultancy or other services for the same strategy?

My final question is in respect of appropriations-in aid and concerns the pension levy. The Department expects a reduced return from the pension levy in 2014. Can the Minister explain this, given the changes that took place to the levy in the budget, from €1.1 million down to €0.95 million?