Written Answers. - Departmental Consultancy Contracts.
Joe Walsh
Question:
146
Mr. J. Walsh
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the external research and consultancy contracts which have been awarded since he took office; the value of such contracts; the persons/companies who were awarded such contracts; and the other persons/companies invited to tender.
[18168/96]
Consultancy assignments in the Department are in respect of computer systems development, policy development and the assessment and evaluation of schemes. Outside expertise is engaged to provide expert technical advice of a specialised nature, to supplement existing resources and to provide strategic advice.
It would not be appropriate to list those companies which were not successful in bidding for the various contracts or to specify the value of contracts awarded. This information is commercially sensitive and is confidential.
Consultancy contracts were awarded to the following companies since 16 December 1994.
Economic and Social Research Institute
1. A survey and analysis of Rent and Mortgage Supplements. This was an extension to a study commissioned by the Department of the Environment.
2. A national survey of occupational and personal pension schemes.
Goodbody Economic Consultants Ltd.
3. A study of the costs of social housing.
4. A review of the purpose, functions and activities of the Combat Poverty Agency.
Coopers & Lybrand.
5. Assistance with the review of Department's information systems plan.
6. Quality assurance support in relation to a computer sites evaluation project.
7. Consultancy assistance with the specification and selection of financial software and associated hardware.
Digital Equipment Ireland Limited
8. Assistance with the development of a computer system for the payment of equal treatment arrears.
9. Consultancy assistance in relation to the continuous computing capability project which will decide on the future role of the Department's four computer sites.
10. Consultancy support for Digital Software products.
11. Assistance to assess the impact of Year 2000 and the EU Single Currency on the Department's computer systems.
Work Research Co-operative Social and Economic Consultants Ltd.
12. Consultancy assistance to evaluate the impact of the back to work allowance scheme.
Price Waterhouse
13. A study on document management in the Pensions Services Office.
14. Consultancy support in connection with a business process re-engineering project.
Majih Ltd.
15. Assistance with the analysis of supplementary welfare allowance survey data.
Zergo Consultants
16. Advice on security aspects in the use of the social services card.
IBM (Ireland) Ltd.
17. Consultancy assistance with the technical aspects of information dissemination in the Department.
Kieran McKeown Limited
18. Consultancy assistance in connection with the analysis of staffing and case loads of the money advice and budgeting service.
Market Research Bureau of Ireland
19. An independent market research survey on the services provided by the Department.
Social Information Systems
20. Advice on the social impact of the possible establishment of a casino in Ireland.
Colin Stutt Consulting
21. Preparation of a study on institutional mechanisms in the context of the national anti-poverty strategy.
Kelleher & Associates
22. Evaluation of family resource centres.
Newleaf Limited
23. Consultancy in relation to the upgrade of a text retrieval computer software package.
Paul McDonnell & Associates
24. A study of the Department's benefits and pension application forms and procedures.
Sourcelines Training Consultancy
25. A review of funding schemes for women's groups.
