Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [35969/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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There is ongoing liaison between my Department and authorities, bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department, during the course of normal day to day business. Advice received in this context is not costed. In regard to advice obtained though consultants, the information requested is set out in the table. The first two items in the table would relate to capital expenditure.

In addition, I have appointed as Special Advisers in my Department Mr. Ryan Meade, Mr. David Healy and Mr. Liam Reid, at salaries of €82,016, €82,016 and €95,363 per annum respectively. The role of Special Advisers is set out in section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. All advice received is considered and as appropriate factored into the development and implementation of policies and programmes by my Department.