Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the date for each year since 2000 of pre-budget meetings held with the Department of Finance and the Department of the Taoiseach; the attendees at such meetings; if an agenda was circulated in advance; if minutes of such a meeting were kept; if not the reason for same; if officials were directed not to keep minutes of such meetings; if so, by whom and the date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter [17559/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Estimates process for a particular year begins in May or June of the previous year, with the Budget being central to the whole process. Within my Department, and in relation to contacts between officials in my Department and the Department of Finance, many of the meetings and conversations in the course of which matters related to the Estimates process are discussed are short and informal. Issues emerging from such meetings are followed up by officials in the normal course of business.

Any meetings attended by me of the nature referred to by the Deputy would have been with the Minister for Finance in the context of the Estimates process. Issues arising at such meetings would be followed up in contacts at official level.