Vol. 473 No. 6
272 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment 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. [2073/97]
The Deputy will appreciate that the carrying out of studies and reviews is a normal feature of day-to-day departmental administration and it would not be practicable to enumerate and describe every single study and review commissioned or requested by me in the period since I came into office. However, I have endeavoured to furnish a comprehensive reply.
In cases where the study or review is mainly comprised of an outside consultancy assignment, it is possible to provide the information requested and this is set out in table 1.
A number of other major policy reviews were also initiated by me and are listed in table 2. These were, or are being, carried out mainly internally in my Department with some limited external consultancy input.
Table 1
|
Name of Study/Review or Consultancy |
Nature of Consultancy |
Total cost (incl. VAT except where stated) |
Action since completion of study/review |
|
Irish International Advertising; |
Series of studies on Science and Technology topics arising from the Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council |
£1,675.00 |
The White Paper contains 50 Government Decisions which are at various stages of implementation. A Monitoring Group has been set up to oversee the implementation process. |
|
Comerford Technology; |
£208.00 |
||
|
Mr. James McDevitt; |
£2,250.00 |
||
|
Technometrics; |
£2,420.00 |
||
|
Irish International Production |
£7,260.00 |
||
|
(all payments made in 1995-exc. of VAT) |
|||
|
White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation |
£29,703 (Publication and printing) |
||
|
Investment Bank of Ireland Corporate Finance Ltd. |
Advisers to Government on sale of Irish Steel Ltd. including indentification of strategic partner for Irish Steel |
£239,435 |
Sale of Irish Steel to Ispat International completed 31/5/96 |
|
Environmental Management and Auditing Services Ltd. |
Environmental Consultants to Government on sale of Irish Steel |
£19,073.10 |
Sale of Irish Steel to Ispat International completed 31/5/96 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Economic evaluation of Insurance Costs in Ireland |
£99,825 |
A programme of follow-up action is being undertaken to implement the recommendations in the consultancy report. |
|
Hay MSL |
Management study for Department Strategic Management Initiative |
£17,840.88(paid in 1995) |
|
|
Myles O'Reilly & Associates |
Study of steel prices |
£2,662.00(paid in 1995) |
The result of the study which indicated that there did not appear to be any grounds generally for complaint, were conveyed to the complainant. |
|
ESRI |
Annual School Leaver survey |
£37,634.00(paid in 1995)£52,200 in 1996 |
Provides input to Government policies on school leavers |
|
Dave Walsh & Associates Management and Training Consultants |
Consultancy Support for Aer Lingus Task Force |
£7,000.00(paid in 1995) |
|
|
Mr. J. Joyce, Actuary |
Provision of actuarial advice for Insurance Division |
£85,960.00 in 1995 and £50,396 in 1996 |
|
|
Coopers & Lybrand |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£40,000.00 plus VAT (of which £30,536 paid in 1995 and £6,153 in 1996. |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
Oracle Ireland |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£137,335 in 1996 |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
Clear Systems Solutions |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£13,219.25 |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
The Software Vineyard Ltd. |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£6,050 |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
Commission on the Newspaper Industry (2) |
An analysis of costings in the newspaper industry. A two phase consumer research project regarding readership trends. |
£57,800 |
I intend to revert to Government regarding legislation in relation to recommendations within my own area of responsibility. |
|
Study on the Newspaper Industry in Ireland |
To obtain an independent assessment of certain aspects of the Newspaper Industry in Ireland. |
£4,500 |
The results of the study were considered in the context of the Competition Authority's interim report of its study of the Newspaper Industry (1995). |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£131,774 plus VAT£80,615 paid in 1995and £124,770.95 in 1996 |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
Quest |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£1,500.00 plus VAT£56,860.94 paid in 1996 |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
Ernst & Young |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£17,787£17,801 paid in 1995 |
|
|
EPS Computer Systems |
Information Technology Project in the Department |
£4,235paid in March 1996 |
Ongoing update of Systems |
|
Ernst & Young |
External evaluator of the EU Operational Programme for Industrial Development 1994-1999 (Mid-term Review)Evaluation of Human Resource Initiative and Evaluation of System of Measures |
£354,500This figure includes the cost of the Mid Term Review and the Final Outturn Review of the Industry Operational Programmme. The figures also provides for the cost of associated studies. |
Ongoing |
|
£34,475 |
|||
|
Ernst & Young |
Medium Term Review of RETEX Operational Programme |
£43,000(Co-financed) |
The review is at Final Report Stage and was considered by the Industry Operational Programme Monitoring Committee on 31 October 1996. |
|
Management Services Unit of Department of Finance |
Study of work practices of the Patents Office |
No cost to Department of Enterprise and Employment will arise as work is being undertaken by Department of Finance. |
|
|
Management Services Unit of Department of Finance |
Study of work practices of the Employment Appeals Tribunal |
No cost to Department of Enterprise and Employment will arise as work is being undertaken by Department of Finance |
|
|
Mr. Brian Lenihan, Dept. of Finance |
Review of the Crafts Council of Ireland |
No Cost |
The recommendations made by the consultant in his report are being implemented. |
|
Eustace Patterson |
Development of performance/impact indicator for the Local Employment Service |
£4,065.00 |
|
|
The National Council for Educational Awards |
Assessment of educational standards of the Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants (IIPA) in connection with IIPA request for recognition under the Companies Act, 1990. |
No cost to Department |
|
|
Goodbody Economic Consultants Ltd., Dublin |
External appraisal of CEB Enterprise Plans |
£18,392 |
Differentiation of CEB budgets introduced in 1996. |
|
University of Limerick |
Information technology requirements of County Enterprise Boards |
£14,520 (£4,356 paid to date) |
Part of ongoing review of County Enterprise initiative generally. |
|
Mr. Arthur Nowlan, A.C.I.S., D.P.A., Blackrock, Co. Dublin |
Preparation of accounting procedures for the County Enterprise Boards |
£3,150 |
All CEBs briefed on procedures |
|
Professor P. McNutt |
Economic advice in relation to the proposed Conoco/Statoil merger |
£4,184.78 |
As the High Court proceedings were withdrawn by the parties and a revised proposal was submitted to the Minister, no follow-up action was necessary. |
|
AIB Capital Markets Finance |
Study in IFI |
£57,475 (provisional) |
Study not yet completed |
|
KMPG |
Assistance to Task Force on Enterprise and Environment |
£9,075 (provisional) |
Consultancy not yet completed |
|
Competition and Mergers Review |
To review and make recommendations on: — the mergers legislation in the context of a legislative consolidation; — the effectiveness of Competition legislation and associated regulations; — cultural matters in the context of the Competition Act, 1991 and in particular section 4 (2) of that Act; — appropriate structures for implementing the above legislation. |
£20,000 for 1996 and 1997 |
The Review Group, which was established in September, 1996, has not completed its work. It is envisaged that the Group will require twelve months at least to complete its work. |
|
Company Law Administration |
Review of fees and charges of the Companies Registration Office — To recommend a revised fees structure based on service cost |
No payments yet made |
Review not completed |
|
Companies Registration Office |
Business Process Reengineering Study — An examination and review of the principal business processes of the CRO |
£17,801.51 |
Recommendations are being incorporated in a new computer system under development. |
|
Goodbody Economic Consultants Ltd. |
To identify current payment practices in the Public Sector |
£16,750(excl. VAT) |
Still in progress |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
The Market for Electronic Information Services for Professional Purposes: Member States — Ireland |
£36,527 Dept's contribution: £4,537 EU contribution: £15,094 Agencies: £16,896 |
This study was aggregated with similar studies from Member States of the European Economic area (EEA) to produce a report entitled “The Markets for Electronic Information Services in the EEA”. The purpose of the study was to record the current state of the market and it did not require any follow-up. |
|
Paul Stokes |
The Supply and Demand for Computer/IT Personnel in Ireland 1995-2000 |
£16,929 (paid by Forbairt and the Higher Education Authority) Dept's contribution: nil |
A Working Group was convened consisting of representatives of the Higher Education Authority and the Departments of Education, Finance and Enterprise and Employment. Much progress has been made including an increase of 1,200 in university computing places over the next 5 years and significant numbers in conversion courses. Work is ongoing. |
|
Forfas |
Evaluation of the Local Employment Service |
No fee involved |
This evaluation is being finalised and I expect to receive the report by the end of January. |
|
ITS Belfast |
Evaluation of (CORI) Pilot Part-time Job Opportunities Programme |
£22,000 (will be funded from CE budget) |
Final report expected in next fortnight |
|
Mr. Trutz Hasse, Social and Economic Consultant |
Research project into data sources on new firm formation |
Total cost £8,230, £2,743 paid to date |
Ongoing |
|
O'Reilly Consultants |
Manual of Accounting Procedures |
Total cost £6,292, £4,194 paid to date |
Ongoing |
|
Mid-Term Evaluation of the Human Resources Development Operational Programme |
Mid-term evaluation of this 1994/99 programme supported by EU Structural Funds |
£68,970 |
Work in hand — not complete |
|
Mid-Term Evaluation of the EMPLOYMENT and ADAPT Operational Programme |
Mid-term evaluation of these 1994/99 Community Initiatives supported by EU Structural Funds |
£21,659 |
Work in hand — not complete |
|
Study — The Extent of Provision of Publicly funded childcare in Ireland |
Study at request of EU Commission in context of work of Human Resources Development Operational Programme Monitoring Committee |
£1,000 |
Study incorporated into a Working Group report to the Human Resources Development Operational Programme Monitoring Committee |
|
Subject |
Consultancy Input |
|
Human Resources Development |
|
|
An internal review of national policy in the area of human resources development has been completed. This will result in the publication of a White Paper. |
Mr. Paul Tansey has been paid £11,495 for consultancy work in connection with the White Paper. |
|
Labour Market Strategy |
|
|
The Planning Unit of my Department were engaged for some months in a review of Labour Market Strategy and a report was published last April. Provides a strategic framework for formulation of labour market policies. |
While the greater part of the work was carried out in-house, some costs arose in relation to publication of the document. These costs totalled £16,000. |
|
Services Policy Statement |
|
|
This Statement will review, inter alia, the impact and growth of the services sector and examine the factors which affect its growth and development. |
Fitzpatrick Associates are providing assistance in completing the statement at a cost of £4,125 (excl. VAT). |
|
Enterprise Strategy |
|
|
Work is nearing completion on an internal review of enterprise strategy which will seek to build on the insights of the Culliton report and on the achievements and experience of its implementation to date. |
The work undertaken by Fitzpatrick Associates has been utilised in the preparation of the statement on Enterprise Strategy which I will be publishing shortly. |
|
This work is expected to cost approximately £11,000 (excl. VAT). |
