Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 15 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

65 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the names and remuneration of special advisers, programme managers and consultants employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11060/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following schedules.

Colin McCrea, Programme Manager — (seconded from Public sector, no cost to the Exchequer).

Mark Kennelly, Special Adviser to Minister — £30,351.

David Moynan, Special Adviser to Minister of State Stagg — £22,922.

The sectors for which my Department has responsibility are facing major change and require certain expertise to be available to the Department beyond what currently exists within the Department's own resources. Over recent years a number of consultancy firms have carried out work on behalf of the Department, and it is likely that this will continue.

At present the following consultants are retained by my Department: Andersen International, Coopers & Lybrand, B. McKenna, Knight' Piésold and Partners, Indecon, Nera, the Bill O'Herlihy Communications Group, WFX O'Sullivan, RTZ Consultants.

The issues on which these consultants are working cover the three major sectors covered by my Department in addition to consultancies on public relations and safety for the Department. The remuneration of consultants varies depending on the company and the task to be carried out. These consultancies are ongoing at the moment so the total fees for the projects have not yet been paid. In all cases, the level of funding has been approved by the Department of Finance.