Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Department typically spends €50,000 or €60,000 on the consultants and contractors it employs. These are small amounts when compared with domestic spending on consultants, which is frequently much higher. In addition, consultants tend to be employed on a short-term basis for a specific purpose. For instance, they are commissioned to assess and carry out proper due diligence on the MAPS proposals from an independent perspective. If the Department were to perform this function, it could decide to fund an organisation because it loved what it was doing. The commissioning of consultants ensures assessments are carried out properly.

While I do not wish to avoid the Deputy's question regarding the University of Bethlehem, I am not aware of the full details of the case. In my experience in Irish Aid, no other project has been the subject of as much lobbying as the University of Bethlehem, about which I have received numerous representations from members of all parties.

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