227. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if a contractor to a local authority can also lobby the same local authority on behalf of a development company, during the contracted time period. [23513/26]

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides for a web-based Register of Lobbying to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions. Under the Act, Local Authorities have a number of Designated Public Officials (DPOs). These are:

• Councillors

• Chief Executives and equivalent grades

• Assistant Chief Executive (Dublin City Council only)

• Directors of Services

• Heads of Finance

• Head of Human Resources (Dublin City Council only)

If a lobbyist communicates with these DPOs in relation to a relevant matter, the lobbyist must register on the Register of Lobbying and submit returns three times per year.

Section 5(5) provides for communications that are exempt under the Act. Communications by those engaged on contract by a public service body, made in that capacity and relating to the functions of the public service body, are exempt communications and do not need to be included in returns. Communications requesting factual information or providing factual information in response to a request for the information are also exempt. However, if communication to the DPO relates to changing or influencing a local authority policy, it is considered a relevant matter and will need to be declared by the lobbyist when publishing returns on the register.

The Act does not restrict contractors lobbying DPOs during the contracted time with the public body.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.