Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of public servants in her Department who are employed full-time on the assessment, procurement, project management and delivery of infrastructure projects covered by the public capital programme. [12869/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the fact that the public capital programme is equivalent to 7.5% of GNP or some 21% of total Government spending, she is satisfied that enough public servants in her Department are working in a full-time capacity on infrastructure projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12893/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the names of persons in the private sector who have met with or advised her or her predecessors over the past seven years in any capacity on infrastructure projects to be supported by public expenditure; the details of those meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12901/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will provide a broad description of each capital project considered by her Department over the past five years; when each project was first considered; when each project will be procured; when each will be completed; if each project will be part-financed by user charges; the number of public servants currently employed in the delivery of each project; the names of the consultants and advisers used to date in respect of each project; the titles of the consultancy reports carried out or in progress; the expenditure to date on each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12911/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 184 to 186, inclusive, together.

Most capital expenditure incurred by my Department over the past five years has generally been on demand-led schemes. Expenditure under such schemes relates to grants paid to individual farmers, co-operatives or companies who present grant applications to undertake certain approved works for which grant payment is subject to the projects being satisfactorily completed. As the aided projects are owned by private parties, the matter of user charges, where relevant, is a matter for the promoters concerned. Capital grant expenditure relates to on-farm investments, marketing and processing type investments, details of which are available in the annual Book of Estimates and in the Department's publication, Schemes and Services.

Actual expenditure under a particular measure is driven by a number of factors such as: the individual measure under which grant applications are submitted; the rate of completion by the promoter; and the number and value of applications received, approved and processed for payment in any one year. As demand-led grant schemes are administered by Department staff, the engagement of outside consultants does not arise.

Within the time available it has not been possible to compile a listing of all meetings attended both by myself and my predecessor over the past seven years with any or all private sector interested parties on infrastructure projects supported by public expenditure. Detailed information relating to expenditure on a number of capital projects and schemes will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the Government considered redeploying public servants to assist with the procurement and project management of infrastructure projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12881/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not been asked to consider redeploying public servants to assist with the procurement and project management of infrastructure projects.