Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Finance the funds spent by his Department since June 1997 on consultants, legal experts and external advice; the number of reports produced under such contracts and the number implemented to date by his Department; the cost of such advice in 2005 and the planned expenditure for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1530/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My Department spent €30.5 million in the period from June 1997 to the end of 2005 on consultants, legal expertise and external advice. This figure includes spending in this area by the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland and the NDP-CSF unit of my Department.

As regards the number of reports, the Deputy will appreciate that not all such contracts required the production of a report. To take one example, a 2000 contract for the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland with a total cost of €7.894 million was for the design and delivery of euro changeover advertising, etc., and purchase of media space for it. There were 358 contracts and a total of 107 reports were produced under them in the period in question. Of those reports containing recommendations, 38 have to date been implemented in full and 48 have been implemented in part. My Department spent €2.982 million in 2005 and the estimates for such contracts included in the Abridged Estimates Volume for 2006 is €7.376 million.