Vol. 397 No. 6
13 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Energy the number of consultants' reports he has commissioned since taking office; the number presented to him; the subjects of these reports; the cost of commissioning them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Since I took office, I have commissioned one such consultancy report. This assignment will examine the financial situation of Bord na Móna and I expect to receive a report by the end of April 1990. The cost of this commission is projected to be £25,000.
In addition to this formal type of commissioned consultancy, my Department have always, as a matter of course, found it necessary to engage the services of external specialists in order to supplement their own technical expertise, for instance, in relation to analyses of petroleum exploration data. During the period in question, eleven such studies were initiated at an estimated total cost of £169,000.
Has the Minister any other reports in mind at present?
No.
In relation to the report on Bord na Móna, is this yet another report subsequent to the one commissioned by his predecessor and, if so, can he give some indication as to why he found it necessary to commission a third set of consultants in the space of two years to examine Bord na Móna?
The Deputy is aware of the major matters that were proposed in the annual report of Bord na Móna, which was leaked some months ago and discussed in the House recently. The discussions my Department are having with Bord na Móna in regard to that matter are of great importance to the future of Bord na Móna. In order to assist me in my consideration of the financial position of the board and their corporate plan I sought the assistance of an outside consultancy firm and they will be reporting to me in four or five weeks' time. That report will enable me to make the proper decisions in regard to the future of Bord na Móna and their financial structures in particular.
I know the Deputy is aware of how crucial and how important these decisions will be. I am encouraged by the work that has been done already by the consultants in question. This is absolutely essential. As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Energy have a small staff and the policy, which I support fully, is to seek outside expertise on occasions when that is deemed to be useful and necessary in the national interest. I consider it to be so in this particular case even though it may seem to have resulted in a delay in considering the matter. In view of the major decisions that have to be made in regard to Bord na Móna the outside expertise will be very valuable and will assist us in making the right decisions.
Can the Minister indicate what terms of reference the consultants were given, if they were asked to indicate options which would be open to the Minister in relation to the future of Bord na Móna and, if so, what those options are?
I cannot do that. It is a confidential report and I have given as much information as I can. I will be as helpful as I can but I am not in a position to give the terms of reference.
I think the House is entitled to know the framework within which the consultants are operating——
I have given an idea of that.
——and the options which the Minister is seeking to address. I think it is reasonable for the House to seek that information.
We now come to deal with Question No. 15.
