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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Reviews and Studies.

Máirín Quill

Question:

161 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will list each review and study commissioned by him since he took office; the title of such a review or study; whether the review or study is being completed within his Department or by external consultants; the names of any such consultants; the current state of preparation of each of these reviews or studies; and the cost of each review or study undertaken. [14816/96]

Three external studies have been commissioned since I became Minister for Tourism and Trade in December 1994. Details are as follows:

(1) Arthur D. Little was appointed to advise and assist the steering committee charged with overseeing the implementation of the Bord Fáilte review recommendations at a total cost of £100,000, of which the Department paid £40,000 and Bord Fáilte £60,000. As this is a Fourth Schedule Service, the Department also had to pay VAT of £8,400 to the Revenue Commissioners; (2) Indecon advised the Department on the development of a range of options for progressing the national conference centre project at a cost of £11,233 of which £8,425 is recoupable from the EU under the Operational Programme for Tourism; and (3) Mediawise provided once-off advice on the projection and presentation of policy by me as Minister at a cost of £1,550.
In addition to the above, Public Relations of Ireland Ltd. have been on contract since June last year, providing guidance and advice to myself and the Department on public relations matters at an annual fee of £44,000, including VAT. Fitzpatricks Associates have been on contract since October last to act as external evaluators for the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999 and to date, they been paid a total of £30,812 of which £23,109 is recoupable from the EU.
Apart from the specific reviews listed above, my Department, as part of the SMI process, continues to examine critically all aspects of its operations with a view to providing a more effective service to me and to the public.
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