Vol. 445 No. 6
505 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education the number of consultants, special advisors or programme managers retained by her Department since this Government took office; the nature of the work they have undertaken; and the cost of their services. [790/94]
The Department of Education currently retains the services of a partnership programme manager, a special adviser to the Minister and a special adviser to the Minister of State. It also has retained the services of a consultancy firm to advise on and develop appropriate financial management procedures and processes. A further 20 consultancy firms were engaged over the period on short term assignments in relation to information technology, management organisation, educational planning, evaluation and related issues. The total cost of the above services since the Government took office comes to some £490,000.
