Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I am seeking a debate on an issue relevant to Donegal which was the subject of an report in the Irish Independent. I refer to Donegal County Council paying out almost €3 million to a private consultancy firm. I was a member of the council at the time and I am in a position to state that we were not made aware of this payment until the public auditor highlighted it and the internal auditor clarified the position. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should come before the House and inform Senators as to how local authorities throughout the country have paid out in consultancy fees and to indicate what is the future with regard to consultancy contracts. The internal auditor informed the Irish Independent that the information provided by the consultants in question to Donegal County Council could have been downloaded free of charge from the Internet. Instead, these individuals were paid €30,000 per month to provide it. The council was still paying the gentlemen involved up to last year.

This matter is still under review and, in such circumstances, I request that the Minister come to the House to inform us where matters stand in the context of local authorities paying consultancy fees. Local authority budgets are becoming increasingly tight.