Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department, including payments from Ministerial allowances, details of the consultants employed and costs of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37618/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the total expenditure from February 2011 to date on external reports commissioned by my Department is €575,042 and details of the consultants responsible for these external reports are set out in tabular form. The complex and diverse nature of my Department’s brief requires use of outside consultants. The bulk of these studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its responsibilities in the areas concerned. I have set out in a separate reply extensive details of expenditure on consultancy services by my Department and the context in which these arise. The reports listed below formed subsidiary elements of those services in a number of instances.

Payments from Ministerial allowances are not a charge on my Department’s Vote and are not a matter for my Department.