Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Studies.

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

276 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry 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. [2074/97]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The following table sets out the major studies and reviews undertaken by my Department since I took office on 15 December 1994. These reviews and studies do not include the many assessments, reviews and analyses of issues which are an intrinsic part of the day to day work of the Department or the on-going work of representative expert groups such as the Dairy, Beef and Sheepmeat Quota Review Groups.

	Title of Study/Review	Department/External Consultants	Current Status/Action since completion	Cost £
1.	Evaluation of the Compensatory Allowances Scheme in Ireland	Brendan Kearney & Associates	Completed Proposals for changes to the Compensatory Allowances Scheme have been put to the European Commission.	*22,143
2.	Analysis of Actual Preparation Hours involved in Teagasc's Adult Training Programme	Colin McIver Associates Ltd.	Completed. Claim for cofinancing of preparation hours of Teagasc staff in their Adult Training Programme has been put to the European Commission.	*11,827
3.	Mid-Term Review of the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry, 1994-1999	Fitzpatrick Associates	Review in progress.	*61,407
4.	Surveys of participants in the Schemes of Installation Aid for Young Farmers and in the Horticulture, Potato and Organic Farming Schemes under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry	Research and Evaluation Services	Surveys in Progress.	*33,819
5.	Study of the Installation Aid for Young Farmers under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry	Analysis and Evaluation Unit of Department	Study in progress.	Cost to be borne out of overall funding provided for the analysis and Evaluation Unit under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, rural Development and Forestry
6.	Study of the FIP (Horticulture) and the Horticulture and Potato Measure under the OPARDF	Analysis and Evaluation Unit of Department	Study in Progress.	Cost to be borne out of overall funding provided for the Analysis and Evaluation Unit under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, rural Development and Forestry
7.	Professional Services provided for the Department's reorganisation exercise	Price Waterhouse	Completed. Report being considered.	£40,817 of which £20,408 refunded by the Department of the Taoiseach
8.	Feasibility Study on setting up of Food Database	Justin Keogan	Completed. Report being considered.	2,000
9.	Updating of Compendium of Irish Economic and Agricultural Statistics	Fergal O'Brien	Completed. Compendium available on Internet.	1,092
10.	Training Needs analysis for Senior Management staff	KPMG	Completed. Preparatory work on implementation in train.	34,300
11.	Plan for the Movement Permit and Plan for Headage project	Coopers & Lybrand Ltd.	Completed. Work on traceability about to begin.	24,371
12.	Assessment of existing computerised accounting systems within the Department	Coopers & Lybrand ltd.	Completed. Requested for tenders issued by Department.	71,691(excluding Vat)
13.	Report to advise the Department in relation to the development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on Land Parcel Identification system	Geosys, France	Completion due in April 1997.	120,000
14.	Assist Department in Evaluation of Tenders for Accounts System	Coopers & Lybrand Ltd.	Completion due end January 1997.	35,000
15.	To provide (1) general advice on implementation of electronic mail and (2) a plan in consultation with the Departments staff for the migration to a new operating system for the Department's wide area Network	Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems	Completed. Work on implementation has begun.	16,500
16.	Ongoing evaluation and midterm review of the Leader II Programme	Brendan Kearney & Associates	In Progress — Draft Mid — Term report has been presented.	114,439(for the first year)
17.	Independent Deboning Yield exercise	S.G.S. (U.K.) Ltd.	Completed. Used in defence of FEOGA disallowances.	26,366
18.	Study on the future organisation of cattle breeding in Ireland	Ernst & Young	Interim Planning Board representative of all interests in Sector agreed in September 1996. It is expected that an Irish Cattle Breeding Authority will be established shortly.	112,206
19.	Study into Meat Inspection Service	Ernst & Young	Decision in principle to adjust system in order to recover full cost of meat inspection service in beef plants. Other recommendations being examined.	75,000
20.	Review of Certain Computer Systems at a Meat Processing Plant	Craig Gardner/Price Waterhouse	Completed. User of system notified that continued use of same is subject to compliance with review recommendations.	10,000Estimate
21.	External Evaluation of Measure 3(II)of the food Sub-Programme — Institutional Research and Development	The CIRCA Group	In Progress.	22,950(+ Vat Strand 1)
22.	Development of administrative procedures for the implementation of EU assisted afforestation and premium schemes	Sectoral Consultants Ltd.	Completed. Publication of application forms and briefing material in relation to premium schemes commenced.	27,918
23.	Develop computer system for EU assisted afforestation and premium schemes	Mr. T. Perfect	System put into operation.	6,075
24.	Facilitation of Strategic Management Initiative (SMI)	Price Waterhouse	Completed. Department statement produced May 1996 and SMI process being implemented.	£59,661 of which £29,137 refunded by Department of the Taoiseach
25.	Future Options for CAP — Joint Study with A.C.A. and Farmers Journal	Brendan Kearney and Alan Matthews	Completed. Report will be used in on-going CAP reform considerations.	5,000(Department's Contribution)