Consultancy Contracts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 October 2005

Wednesday, 12 October 2005

Ceisteanna (190)

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

220 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the number of contracts awarded by him to outside consultants in respect of each year since 2000; if he will identify the recipient of the contract in each case; the details of the work covered by the contract; the original estimate of the cost of the contract; the final amount paid in respect of each such contract; the final amount paid in respect of each such contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28351/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I refer the Deputy to replies to two previous parliamentary questions about this topic, copies of which are being forwarded to the Deputy. These are of 17 February 2004 and 28 June 2005, and together they give details of the purpose and recipient of my Department's consultancies in the years he mentioned, along with the payments made in each year. As the Deputy will appreciate, given the amount of information they contain it has not been possible, in the time available for answering this question, to compile the information in the format sought by him, that is, showing the cost by contract rather than by year and showing also the original estimate of the cost of the contract. However, I am having the information compiled in that format and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.