Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 916: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [1537/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 523 of 28 June 2005 and 425 and 427 of 2 November 2005, which gave details of the engagement of consultants, including legal experts and costs of same from the establishment of my Department in June 2002 up to 2 November 2005.

Payments made under these contracts since 2 November 2005 amount to €51,315.10. Six new consultancies have been entered into since 2 November 2005. These include the following: Mazars was engaged to prepare procedures manuals for the Department's Corepay at a cost of €10,000;, Montague Communications public relations and event management services to the NACD at a cost of €29,8;, Eamonn Ó Domhnaill — review of departmental expenditure on NUIG education projects in the Gaeltacht at a cost of €27,830; Aqua Fact International Services Limited — survey of flora on site of Inishbofin airstrip at a cost of €15,125;, Petrus Consulting to carry out a review of capital expenditure on the islands from 1998 to 2004 at a cost of €54,147.50;, and Philip Lee Solicitors — engaged by NACD to advise on research contracts at a cost of €13,352.50. The cost of consultancies in 2005 was €349,000, including €25,636.67 for contracts for legal advice. Estimated expenditure for consultancies in 2006 is €500,000.

Due to the diverse nature of my Department's activities, I am not in a position to provide a response in regard to the number of reports that were produced under consultancies since June 2002, within the time available. My Department is collating the material for reply and I will forward the material directly to the Deputy when it is complete.