Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Studies.

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

64 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice the total amount of money expended on consultancies in the past two years; the total number of reports from these consultancies; and the cost of such reports. [1497/97]

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

240 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of reviews and studies undertaken by consultants or ordered from within her Department since she 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. [2070/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 240 together.

Excluding professional-technical consultants engaged for prisons buildings and building services design and supervision of constructioninstallation, the details sought by the Deputies in respect of reports, reviews and studies undertaken by consultants in relation to my Department or ordered within my Department since I took office are set out in the following tabular statement:

Purpose of report, review study	Costs involved	Action taken following completion of report. review, study
To review the Private Security Industry following Brinks Allied robbery and to examine the issue of regulation for the Private Security Industry. (Departmental review)	No additional costs incurred	The review is nearing completion and the Minister will announce its conclusions and recommendations later in 1997.
To examine all aspects of air support for the Garda Síochána and how best to provide the Force with the most effective air support (Interdepartmental Group)	No additional costs incurred	On 12 December 1996 the Minister announced that contracts valued at £5.5 million has been signed for the purchase of a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft for the newly established Garda Air Support Unit.
To update the study of the Mountjoy prisoner population in terms of criminal background, health and other socioeconomic inidcators (Dr. Paul O'Mahony, PhD)	£32,065	Due to be completed in 1997.
To investigate the operation of the Bail System — to ascertain the effect on the demand for prison accommodation of possible changes to the constitutional provisions (Dr. Paul O'Mahony, Ph.D)	£4,800	Completed in February, 1996 — in use for policy development.
Inquiry in the Department of Justice into the delisting of Judge Dominic Lynch from the Special Criminal Court Panel (Mr. Seán Cromien and Dr. Edmond Molloy)	£11,887 (printing costs not yet available)	The recommendations are being addressed.
To report on the violence at Lansdowne Road during the international soccer match between Ireland and England on 15 February 1995 (former Chief Justice, Mr. Thomas Finlay)	£7,545[The former Chief Justice did not wish to have payment for his services — the figure quoted therefore relates to other costs]	The report contains recommendations which will be taken into account by the Garda Síochána in relation to events of the kind covered by the report.
To provide a practical input for the charitable-voluntary sector into the drafting of the legislation to implement the Costello report (Advisory Group on Charities-Fundraising Legislation)	No additional cost incurred	Report has been referred to the Dáil Select Committee on Legislation and Security for its consideration.
To report in relation to the provision of documentation to juries in serious fraud trials (Committee on Court Practice and Procedures)	No additional costs anticipated	The committee has not yet reported.
To review the existing criminal law and procedure as they currently operate and to advise on any changes that would enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of criminal law and procedure (Advisory Group on Criminal Law and Procedure)	Incidental meeting expenses	The group has not yet reported.
To consider and make recommendations on the question of qualifications for appointment as Judges of the High and Supreme Courts (Working Group)	Incidental meeting expenses	The group has not yet reported.
To consider and make recommendations in relation to the question of reform of the system of preliminary examinations provided for in the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967 and related matters (Committee on Court Practice and Procedure)	No additional cost anticipated	The review has not yet been completed.
To define requirements for computer network for new Land Registry Offices in Waterford. (Norcontel (Ireland) Limited)	£9,922	Requirements being addressed.
To report on enhancements to computer system in Registry of Deeds (KPMG Management Consulting)	£43,311	Enhancements in progress.
To assist in the preparation of a Statement of Strategy Document for Land Registries (Price Waterhouse)	£10,176	The Strategy Statement has been launched and circulated.
To update the financial study on the Registries in preparation for Vesting Day (Price Waterhouse)	£15,851	Study being incorporated into financial planning.
To advise on space planning for Waterford office of the Land Registry (Anthony Reddy Assoc.)	£3,630	Advice being incorporated.
To report on:
(a) general aspects of fire and safety in prisons	£21,709	(a) Recommendations adopted
(b) work place stress		(b) Under discussion with P.O.A. in the context of health and safety issues
(c) special safety project (Nifast)		(c) Recommendations adopted.
To report on catering and laundary facilities in prisons (Cert)	£19,250	Recommendations adopted and Operations Manual developed.
To design a new badge for the Prison Service (Visual Communications)	£2,842	Several sample designs were produced followed by the final version in various sizes for use in production process.
To report on training-development needs of basic grades in the Prison Service (Institute of Public Administration)	£10,000	Recommended strategy being pursued.
To carry out a review of staffing levels and arrangements in the Prison Service on behalf of the Committee on Operating costs in the Prison Service (Mr. Gordon Lakes)	£7,000 plus expenses	First stage of this task commenced in January 1997.
To devise an IT and telecommunications plan for the Gards Síochána (Anderson Consulting)	£132,058	Recommendations being implemented.
To review the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962 and to make recommendations as to the manner in which the Scheme might be improved (Criminal Legal Aid Review Group)	Costs not yet available	Review not yet complete.
To review the operation of the Courts and to consider the establishment of a Commission on the Management of the Courts as an independent and permanent body with financial and management autonomy	£26,312 up to end 1996	Publication of three reports which are in process of implementation.
The Working Group have retained the services of a consultant (Wright Consultancy) to assist them in the preparation of a job specification for the Chief Executive for the proposed Court Services (Working Group on a Courts Commission)
To provide public relations and consultancy services to the Minister (Peter White and Associates and Coyne Communications)	1995: £30,546 1996: £36,173	Consultancy is ongoing.
To design, implement and make recommendations for the support of a secure communications and IT network for the Criminal Assets Bureau	£73,000 (estimate)	Consultancy is ongoing

The total costs involved amount to £498,077. The above statement does not include payments within the courts building programme to various consultants e.g. architects appointed by the local authorities, who are acting as the Department's agents. Under the terms of the Government decision of March 1990, such consultants' fees are reimbursed by my Department. Aside from these specific matters, there are, of course, ongoing studies and research undertaken in my Department as part of normal day-to-day work.