andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Taoiseach the nature of the consultancy services employed by his Department; the number of persons employed; and how the £34,000 was spent.
Written Answers. - Consultancy Services.
607.
Subhead A2 of my Department's Vote for 1984 contains a provision of £33,700 for consultancy services. The only expenditure to date is a sum of £11,746.50 paid to Eukon Associates, management consultants, in respect of an attitudinal survey of views on Ireland's economic and social potential.
608.
andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Energy the reason an increase of 61 per cent is being estimated for consultancy services in his Department for 1985; and how the additional £332,000 will be spent.
The reason for the increase in the estimate for consultancy services in my Department is to provide for an anticipated increase in requirements in the petroleum exploration area. It is expected that the increased expenditure will be used to provide expert technical advice and information in that area.
609.
andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Energy if he will give details of the expenditure of £541,000 on consultancy services in 1984; the number of people employed on this work, and how these people were recruited.
The provisional breakdown of expenditure by my Department for consultancy services in 1984 is as follows:— petroleum exploration (£221,000), natural gas development (£190,000), ESB prices inquiry (£60,000), mining (£50,000) and miscellaneous (£20,000). Sixteen individual consultants and ten firms or organisations are or have been employed by my Department in the course of the year. Consultants are not recruited by or for my Department. They have been selected for employment under contract or agreement for specific purposes in the following ways
—By request issued to suitably qualified firms with relevant Irish experience. These firms submitted proposals and costings and a choice was then made based on an evaluation of these proposals.
—In other instances relevant qualified people were obtained from State-sponsored bodies, such as the IIRS and the Industrial Credit Company, on a negotiated fee basis.
—Because many projects have a lifetime longer than one year consultants who were previously employed on these projects and who were found to be satisfactory were reengaged.
—Very occasionally, when a specific immediate need has arisen, my Department negotiated directly with one firm whose particular expertise is required by the circumstances.