Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of retired officials that were re-engaged by his Department on a consultancy basis in the past four years and to date in 2025; the reason for engaging them; the costs incurred in respect of their engagement; and if his Department requires consultants to declare conflicts of interest in advance of utilising their services. [31267/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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For the years 2021 to 2023 details in relation to retired officials that were re-engaged by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media are disclosed in the annual Appropriation Account for the Department as published by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and are available at the following link: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/

Officials were engaged to participate in a range of services from Expert Advisory Panels, Audit Committee and Interview Boards. Consultants are required to declare conflicts of interest.

In 2024 six retired officials were re-engaged and in 2025 two officials have been re-engaged. The below table details the payments.