Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 1

Written Answers. - Westmeath Drainage Scheme.

Willie Penrose

Question:

58 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance when a stream clean channel designated as C8/6 on the Brosna catchment drainage scheme at Ballymore, County Westmeath, will be cleaned in view of the assurances given to Deputy Penrose by letter dated 28 November 1994, that this work was to be done early in 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11923/95]

Minister for State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Coveney)

The channel referred to is in fact in the Inny Catchment Drainage Scheme and not the Brosna as previously understood. It was last maintained in 1990 and was scheduled for further cleaning works earlier this year. A large portion of the channel has to be cleaned by hand as access is impossible by excavator. However, high water levels in the area and pressure of other more urgent work elsewhere in the catchment prevented the works being carried out at that time. It is now expected that the work will be undertaken during July and August next.

The following reports were commissioned by my Department. The names of the firms involved and associated costs are shown:

Report	Firm	Costs
		£
Performance Indicators in the Civil Service	IPA	in progress
Prior Appraisal Maritime Interreg Programme	KPMG	7,332
Prior Appraisal EU Peace Fund	KPMG	12,100
Prior Appraisal Interreg	KPMG	6,000
Safety Audit Report	National Industrial Fire & Safety Training Centre Ltd.	726
Customer Service Satisfaction-Independent market survey dealing with “customer service satisfaction” with the service provided by this office to the general taxpaying public.	Irish Marketing Surveys Ltd.	40,293
Taxes Consolidation Project	Alan Moore (Consultants)	45,000

The Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector were commissioned by the Minister on 30 March 1995 to examine and report on the remuneration of medical consultants. The amount provided for in the 1995 Estimates was £115,000 for this Review Body. The cost of carrying out the review of medical consultants will be apportioned from this amount in due course.

I have only had one transaction with State boards under the aegis of my Department. This was the reappointment of Mr. Daniel McGing as Chairperson of the ACC Bank plc. He was reappointed on 21 April 1995, and the term of appointment is one year.