asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has received reports of the work undertaken by every consultancy firm engaged by each of the semi-State companies for which he is responsible over the period of the last three years; and if he will make a statement indicating the managerial areas investigated, the duration of the studies and what recommendations were implemented in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reports of Consultancy Firms.
40.
As I indicated on 26th November, 1968 in reply to similar questions on this subject by the Deputy, it is normal practice for public enterprises, particularly those engaged in trading operations, to engage consultants from time to time to assist the management in the solution of particular problems. Where this is done without special State assistance, the choice of consultants and of the managerial areas investigated, the duration of the studies and the implementation of the recommendations are matters for the company concerned.
During my regular meetings with the boards of the companies for which I am responsible I am informed in general terms of their progress. Where appropriate, these reports would cover the field of consultancy work.
I have both during debates on the Estimate for my Department and on the occasion recording the progress of a particular enterprise outlined the many and varied types of investigation and project formation carried out both by consultants and personnel trained in this field. The total results of these investigations are firstly far too numerous to give in detail even during the Estimate debate; secondly, I judge the efficacy of each investigation by the general growth of productivity shown by the enterprise concerned.
It would be helpful for the Minister to be in a position to assure the House that, if a report of a consultancy team is made with recommendations, such recommendations will be taken up or used thereafter. Otherwise, there would be uneasiness in the House that consultancy teams would undertake work on which no action might thereafter be taken. Which of the recommendations was acted upon in this case?
They would be almost too numerous and involved to give any description of them, in cases of some companies. I have done my best to indicate the kind of fields envisaged. In general, I would say that State companies do adopt the recommendations of consultants, but sometimes it is not possible to adopt a recommendation because there are other difficulties of which the consultants may not be particularly aware. As the Deputy knows, it is very important in doing consultancy work that the company itself programmes the consultant adequately and efficiently. I can say, I think, that a sufficient number of consultants' reports, either in whole or in part, have been adopted by the companies concerned to suggest that the general work in this field is adequately carried out and efficiently adopted.