Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Consultancy fees are reduced because the e-Cabinet project has effectively been completed. The consultancies were related to work on that project. There are several applications under the e-inclusion scheme which is for elderly and disabled people, and organisations to get grants to help them use information technology. The Minister of State in my Department, Deputy Kitt, administers that scheme.

The overall consultancy service subhead shows a decrease of approximately 10%. It is planned to use consultancy services next year in a small number of projects. The total allocation of €243,000 is considered prudent in order to meet the requirements for the use of consulting services which may arise during the year. There are no big projects now that the e-Cabinet project is over. The MacEntee commission has sought the extension, to meet the cost of winding up the inquiry into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, to the end of March 2006 and it should be finished during the year.

See this speech in context