Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
753. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by his Department on private travel for him and-or his private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30069/15]
View answerMy Department does not pay expenses in respect of private travel. Details of my travel expenses for official purposes are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie/en/corporateexpenditure/ministerialexpenses/FileDownLoad,41065,en.pdf.
Legal fees totalling €4,907 were paid by my Department in the twelve month period to 30 June 2015, as set out in the following table:
|
Name of Firm or Solicitor/Barrister |
Subject Matter/Nature of Work |
Expenditure from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 |
|
Eamon Galligan SC |
Legal advice on new provisions under section 261a of the Planning and Development Act 2000 |
€2,432 |
|
Arthur Cox Solicitors |
Codling Windfarm/Foreshore lease |
€2,475 |
|
Total |
€4,907 |
The table does not include legal fees associated with the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments. Payments of this nature by agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agencies/bodies concerned.
The expenditure by my Department on consultancies during the period in question is set out in the following table:
|
Consultant |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Expenditure from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 |
|
AECOM |
Additional cost-optimal calculations to meet requirements under Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (recast). |
€33,684 |
|
Bid Management Services |
Professional services regarding procurement document. |
€2,583 |
|
Building Research Establishment |
Study on Attic Ventilation in domestic dwellings. |
€15,375 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Expert Assistance in the Local Government Shared Services Programme. |
€66,036 |
|
Duncan Lawrence Environmental Ltd. |
Analysis of Household Waste Collection Legislation. |
€4,617 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Research on the possible socio-economic impact of an incident at Sellafield. |
€79,950 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies. |
€13,595 |
|
Glas Ecology |
Environment Management follow up Report (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). |
€1,599 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
NTACC research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation. |
€2,017 |
|
ILC Sports and Recreation |
Review of Comhairle na Tuaithe and the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. |
€4,797 |
|
Institute of Public Administration (IPA) |
Peer review of Met Eireann's Operational and Strategic Review. |
€4,920 |
|
MacCabe Durney Barnes |
Independent Planning Review. |
€75,921 |
|
Marine Institute |
Assist and advise in the management and phased roll-out of the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for Irish waters including an initial assessment of the environmental status of Irish waters; the development of a monitoring programme; and the institution of programmes of measures to maintain and improve good environmental status. |
€583,105 |
|
Mason Hayes & Curran |
Professional advice in relation to Climatological Observers. |
€566 |
|
Mr. John Martin |
Report on the Planning Policy and practice implications of the High Court ruling in the O'Grianna case. |
€1,500 |
|
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Environmental Policy Integration: Case Studies Research. |
€38,222 |
|
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Sustainable Urban Development. |
€20,303 |
|
Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy |
Independent Review of Draft Ministerial Direction on Westmeath CDP. |
€5,263 |
|
Tom Philips Associates (Patricia Thornton) |
Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Limerick. |
€4,151 |
|
Ricardo-AEA |
NSMC Residential Solid Fuel Study. |
€16,475 |
|
RPS Group (RPS Consulting Engineers Limited) |
Review of Producer Responsibility Initiatives within Ireland and investigate the possibility of additional initiatives. |
€79,848 |
|
Sweeney Consulting (Scotland) Limited |
Independent expert perspective for National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management. |
€45,842 |
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
Operation of the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS). |
€52,014 |
|
University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies. |
€23,678 |
|
University College Cork (UCC)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Review of Environmental Social Policy Literature. |
€4,305 |
|
Total |
€1,182,799 |
The expenditure by my Department on hotel accommodation for my predecessor and myself, along with staff in the Minister’s Private Office in the twelve month period to 30 June 2015 was as follows –
|
Minister Hogan |
Expenditure from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 |
|
Accommodation - Min Hogan |
€2,249.40 |
|
Accommodation - Runaí Aire |
€2,249.41 |
|
Subtotal - Minister Hogan |
€4,498.81 |
|
Minister Kelly |
Amount |
|
Accommodation - Advisor |
€1,554.64 |
|
Accommodation - Civilian Driver |
€334.85 |
|
Accommodation - Min Kelly |
€2,955.21 |
|
Accommodation - Runaí Aire |
€2,793.71 |
|
Subtotal - Minister Kelly |
€7,638.41 |
|
Total |
€12,137.22 |
With regard to the expenditure incurred in respect of my predecessor, only €450.44 related to costs incurred from 1 July 2014. Of the remaining €4,048.37 costs incurred by my predecessor, €2,740.21 related to costs met by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the period October 2013 to March 2014 that were not recouped until November 2014.
