Vol. 476 No. 5
264 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has to continue his predecessor's high level of usage of consultants, with over £12 million spent on consultants by him in 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7647/97]
The Estimate for my Department for 1997, under subhead A7-consultancies, is £4.199 million. The Estimate reflects the provision made for a number of exceptional consultancies which are anticipated in 1997. This includes a provision of £2 million for a competition in relation to the building of a peat-fired power station; £0.877 million for the technical assistance programmes under the economic infrastructure operational programme and the operational programme for transport; £0.4 million for electricity industry restructuring; £0.2 million in relation to a competition for the award of a DCS1800 telephone licence and £0.1 million in relation to a review of operations at the Whitegate refinery.
