Bertie Ahern
Question:5 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if he has added any persons to his personal unestablished staff since August 1996; and the new consultancies, if any, he has engaged since August 1996. [2147/97]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Ministerial Appointments.
I have not added any persons to my personal unestablished staff since August 1996. My Department has appointed four consultants since August 1996. Management consultants were appointed to carry out a review of the Garda Síochána under the Strategic Management Initiative. They have now completed their report to the steering group and the group is preparing recommendations which it is hoped to submit to Government during February.
Design consultants were engaged in October 1996 for the preparation of the Department of the Taoiseach Strategy Statement. Economic consultants were appointed to carry out the appraisal of the Action Plans under the Operational Programme for URBAN.
In relation to the EU Conference on Local Development held in November 1996, a consultant was appointed to report on the proceedings of the conference. The report will be published shortly.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the recommendations of the consultants involved in the URBAN initiative have been presented to him?
That matter is being dealt with by the Minister of State, Deputy Gay Mitchell, and I suggest that any questions in regard to the URBAN initiative be put down separately. This question relates solely to the appointment of consultants and I have answered it.
I accept the Taoiseach is not dealing with the details of this matter but does he know if the consultants have concluded their work?
I do not have operational responsibility for this matter——
I accept that.
——which is delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell, and I do not wish the House to take anything I say on this as authoritative. My understanding is that there are three plans, two in Dublin and one in the north side of Cork, and the monitoring committee is now considering those plans. If that is so, the likelihood is that the consultants have completed their work and that the matter is now before the monitoring committee for consideration. I would prefer to confirm that, however, and I will revert to the Deputy if there is any change in what I have just said.