Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Studies.

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

305 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Marine 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. [2077/97]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

The following table lists the major reviews and studies which have been initiated in my Department since 23 May 1995.

	Title of Review/Study	Undertaken by	Action Following completed Study/Present Position	Cost/ Estimated Cost £
1.	Review of Salmon Management	Task Force, chaired by Prof. Noel Wilkins of University College, Galway	Programme of Action based on Task Force Report initiated, with the making of Regulations to put in place conservation measures	*
2.	Review of Fishing Vessel Safety	Review Group chaired by Mr. Donal O'Mahony, former Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications	Proposals for a plan of action will be submitted to Government shortly.	*
3.	Review of Biotoxin Contamination and Monitoring in Shellfish	Task Force, chaired by Mr. Pat Keogh of Bord Iascaigh Mhara	The report was adopted and is being implemented in conjunction with the shellfish industry, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute.	*
4.	Review of the Adequacy of the Marine Search and Rescue Coverage on the East Coast	Members of the Marine Emergency Advisory Group	The report of the review has been published. Tendering procedure for provision of a medium lift helicopter has commenced.	*
5.	Review of the Management and Organisational Structures of the Fishery Service	Price Waterhouse Management Consultants	Final report is under examination.	91,000
6.	Report on the organisation and Management of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board	Mr. Dermot Rochford, Personnel and Management Consultant	A Commission was appointed to undertake certain functions of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board.	7,592
7.	Review of Pilotage in the Waterford Estuary	1. Clyde Consultants Ltd. (Scotland).2. Capt Denis Gray	Review ongoing	8,2501,637
8.	Policy Review Group on Investigation of Marine Accidents	Review Group chaired by Mr. Vincent Power, Solicitor and Partner at A & L Goodbody, Solicitors.	Review ongoing.	*
9.	Review of Irish Seafarers Income Tax and PRSI	Nautical Enterprise Centre of Cork regional technical college	Special PRSI regime for employers of seafarers was announced in the Budget Speech. The impact of the income tax regime on seafarers is continuing to be assessed.	5,000
10.	Study of the strategies and options for renewal and restructuring of the Irish Whitefish Fleet	KPMG/McIver Management Consultants	Review ongoing. Final Report is expected shortly.	34,787
11.	Review of Trout & Coarse Fisheries Development Societies	Joint review, being undertaken by Department of the Marine, representatives of the Fishing Boards and the Trout & Coarse Fisheries Development Societies	Review ongoing.	*
12.	Coastal Zone Management Study (Joint study commissioned by Departments of Environment, Arts, Culture & the Gaeltacht and the Marine)	Brady Shipman Martin, Planning Consultants in association with HR Wallingford Ltd. Natural Environment Consultants and Dr. Susan Gubbay	Study nearing completion.	39,064Similar sum being paid by Departments of Environment and Arts, Culture & the Gaeltacht

* In the case of studies for which management consultants have not been engaged, any costs arising — travelling expenses — generally fall to be met from my Department's Vote. However, the secretary to the task force which conducted the review of biotoxin contamination and monitoring in shellfish was engaged on contract by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, at a cost of £14,213.

The table does not include other reviews or studies, largely technical or operational in character, initiated in the period in question.