Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and identity of persons, groups, bodies or agencies other than the established civil servants from whom he or Ministers of State in his Department have sought or received advice in connection with policy or administrative matters appertaining to the operation of his Department or other bodies under his aegis in the past 12 months; the extent to which such advice related to capital expenditure projects; the cost of such advice; the extent to which it has been implemented to date or if it is intended to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35965/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will appreciate that, given the wide range of programmes operated by my Department, external advice relating to policy or administrative matters, including in relation to capital projects, may be required from time to time. The table below sets out the main instances (excepting those of minor value) in which such advice has been sought formally over the past 12 months, together with associated information along the lines sought by the Deputy. I do not consider it realistic to provide details relating to informal or unsolicited advice, or to advice provided by bodies or agencies in fulfilment of their everyday functions, in a reply of this nature.