Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On the sum of the €500,000 to which I referred, that was what I understood to be the case. If it is not, and it only relates to the post of the adviser who is no longer employed, so be it. We can check those details subsequently.

Is there any value for money review on the number of advisers across the board? Has an evaluation of their value or worth been carried out other than the fact that it is great to have the camaraderie, support and occasional note offered to the Taoiseach? The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, does that frequently. It is important that there is an assessment of public moneys being expended. We might not be allowed to ask how many advisers are employed across all Departments. We only know of six for the Taoiseach's position. How many would there be across all Departments? There would be a significant number, greater than the number indicated earlier to Deputy Gilmore. It is reasonable to ask if a value for money audit has ever been carried out on such a significant number of people brought in, particularly in these difficult and straitened economic times.

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