Vol. 473 No. 6
135 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the number of reviews and studies undertaken by consultants or ordered from within his Department since he became Minister; the purpose of each of these studies; the action, if any, which has followed since completion; and the cost of each review or study. [2081/97]
In the period since I was appointed Minister for Equality and Law Reform in December, 1994 a total of five reviews or studies were undertaken by consultants or ordered from within my Department. Details of the reports/studies are as follows:
The Keegan report arose from a study undertaken by Mr. Michael Keegan in relation to aspects of the operation of the Legal Aid Board. Mr. Keegan was required by his terms of reference to review all matters pertaining to the appointment of the solicitor-in-charge in the Monaghan Law Centre in order to establish whether the appointment was carried out in accordance with public service standards.
The report established that the recruitment process was carried out in accordance with normal public service standards and that the appointment in question was based entirely on merit. It was critical, however, of the accompanying paper-work, which was considered to be of a haphazard and unsatisfactory nature. It also made a series of recommendations regarding the manner in which the recruitment process could be improved by the board and on the board's internal staff/union relations. I understand that the board has implemented these new procedures. I, also, understand that management of the board is in discussion with the trade unions on matters arising from the report and that agreement has been reached on a variety of issues. The cost of the report was £3,400.
I arranged with ADM Limited, which administers the pilot childcare initiative on behalf of my Department, for an evaluation of the pilot childcare initiative to determine what impact the initiative had on childcare measures funded under the initiative, which utilised the skills of trained local people to enable women undertake education, training, retraining and employment opportunities which they would otherwise be unable to do, in the absence of a childcare facility. The evaluation report is due to be published in the near future. The cost of the report is expected to be in the region of £30,000.
The purpose of the QMP contract was to develop and promote an information campaign, on behalf of the Government, on the referendum to remove the constitutional ban on divorce. On foot of the Supreme Court judgment in the McKenna case the campaign ceased on 17 November 1995. The cost was £52,500.
