Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of external consultants currently working for or in his Department; the work they are carrying out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6196/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has made available on its website details regarding consultancies (excepting those of minor value, i.e., less than €5,000 excluding VAT) from June 2002 to end-December 2009. The relevant link, which will take the Deputy directly to these details, including the information sought by him, is as follows: www.pobail.ie/en/CorporateSupportServices/Finance/Consultancies.

The Deputy will note from the database that there are 3 external consultancies in progress in my Department at present working towards the following objectives:

to assist with the tendering process for the provision of management services in respect of airstrips located off the west and north-west coast of Ireland;

to advise and report on the employment needs and development potential of islands with populations in excess of 55 people; and

to advise and report, in the context of the INTERREG Programme, on infrastructure costs and design for a number of ferry routes serving remote communities off the Scottish and Irish coasts.