Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Studies.

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

85 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach the number of reviews and studies undertaken by consultants or ordered from within his Department since he became Taoiseach; the purpose of each of these studies; the action, if any, which has followed since completion; and the cost of each review or study. [2067/97]

The Taoiseach

The reviews undertaken by consultants or ordered from within my Department since my appointment as Taoiseach are outlined in the following schedule.

Study-Review by	Purpose of Study	Action following Study	Cost of Study
			£
Price Waterhouse Efficiency Audit Group — Review of the Irish Air Corps and Naval Service	The following are the terms of reference for the Study: In the light of the Government decisions of 3 July 1995 and 5 March 1996 to review the existing operations of the Navy and Air Corps and to make recommendations to ensure the optimum use of resources in order to fulfil the roles set by Government (additional information at Note 1 below)	The Review will be presented to the Steering Group shortly who will report of Government during February.	175,245
Deloitte and Touche	Organisational Review of the Garda Síochána by Deloitte and Touche for the Steering Committee on the SMI Review of the Garda Síochána (additional information at Note 2 below)	Deloitte and Touche have now completed their report to the Steering Group. The Steering Group is preparing recommendations which it is hoped to submit to Government during February.	180,290
Galway County Council (Harewood Engineers)	Feasibility Study for a bridge at Knockferry-Kilbeg, County Galway	No further action by the Department of the Taoiseach.	9,385
Department of Political Science, Trinity College Dublin	Study of the possible options to enhance the democratic accountability of the EU in the context of the Intergovernmental Conference	Report published in December 1995 — Electing the President of the European Commission. No specific follow-up necessary.	8,000
Western Development
D & G Information Consultants: Report on four Seminars in relation to Western Development	Collating and assessing information on the subject of Rural Renewal: an Integrated Approach to the Provision of Public Services	Following the Report, a Pilot Programme for the Provision of Public Services in Rural Areas was established.	8,253
Centre for Adult and Community Education, Maynooth College	Management and implementation of a Pilot Programme for the Integration of Public Services in Rural Areas	There is on-going evaluation of Pilot Projects and the college will make proposals for future action.	20,000
Centre for Adult and Community Education, Maynooth College	Feasibility Study into one of the pilot projects, regarding the provision of a video-conferencing facility on the Galway Islands	On foot of the report produced, a revised project proposal was requested taking account of the recommendations of the study.	1,450
Local Development:
Goodbody Economic Consultants	External Evaluation of the Operational Programme on Local Urban and Rural Development	A mid-term evaluation of the programme will be presented to the Monitoring Committee in February. The report will be finalised and published through the CSF.	24,000
Services Industry Research Centre	Prior appraisal of URBAN	This is a requirement of the Commission. The appraisal enabled final agreement of the operational programme and will enable the implementation of the programme.	10,500
Goodbody Economic Consultants-Services Industry Research Centre	Prior appraisal of the Action Plans submitted under the operational programme for URBAN	This is the initial independent appraisal of the Action Plans for the Monitoring Committee for the operational programme. The Monitoring Committee then considers the plans in the context of the objectives of the operational programme and agrees level of funding.	9,377
D & G Information Consultants	Report of the Local Development Seminar in July 1995	The report was circulated to participants and will inform policy and implementation of the operational programme.	5,750
Nexus Research Co-operative	Report of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy seminar on disadvantaged urban areas	The report formed part of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy Working Group Report on disadvantaged areas and will inform the final report of the Interdepartmental Policy CoIngrid McEiroy	484
Ingrid McEiroy	Report on the Local Development Seminar on Estate Management in November 1995	The report has been published and has informed ongoing developments in estate management.	700
Mel Cousins	Reporting and editing of proceedings of EU Conference on Local Development in November 1996	Report will be published shortly.	3,630

Additional information:

Note 1: Price Waterhouse — Review of the Irish Air Corps and Naval Services.

Price Waterhouse were asked to consider and make recommendations on:

—the appropriate numbers and grading of personnel to carry out the tasks assigned;

—the most effective management structure, taking particular account of the overall organisation of the Permanent Defence Forces and the need for close liaison with public and private sector organisations;

—appropriate systems of financial control, delegation and accountability;

—the optimum procurement and maintenance systems including stores-stock ordering;

—opportunities for civilisation and-or contracting out;

—the development of appropriate operational cost-benefit matrices and performance indicators for the medium to longer term.

In addition, the consultants should, in relation to the NAVY, make recommendations on the following issue:

—the required balance of resources as ship and shore operations and activities in order to maximise the availability of sea going personnel, so as to optimise the sea time of service vessels.

In relation to the AIR CORPS, the consultants should make recommendations on the following issues:

—the role and necessity for each element of the Air Corps fleet together with the number, composition and deployment of associated personnel;

—the training strategy and facilities necessary to meet requirements and in particular the extent to which aspects relating to training should be undertaken by outside agencies.

Note 2: Deloitte and Touche — SMI Review of the Garda Síochána

The following are the terms of reference for the study:

(a) to examine the operation of the Garda Síochána, against the background of the challenges it now faces and is likely to face;

(b) to consider the relationship between the Garda Síochána and the State agencies in the broad crime area, and

(c) to make recommendations to the Government at the earliest opportunity for change that would be likely to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Garda Síochána, including the timescale for implementation, in relation in particular to:

—the role and functions of the force;

—its management structures and systems;

—policing practices;

—manpower and other resource issues;

—training and development;

—deployment of resources, including manpower.

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

86 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [2078/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Since my appointment as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs on 15 December 1994 the following reviews and studies have been undertaken by consultants at the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Tánaiste:

Department of Foreign Affairs — Vote for Foreign Affairs

A total of three studies or reviews were conducted by consultants and the costs arising were charged to the Vote for Foreign Affairs. Following are the relevant details.

A review of the structure and the functions of the Department's Legal Division was conducted during this period. Arising out of this, a number of measures have been taken to strengthen the staffing and effective functioning of the Legal Division. The cost of this consultancy was £49,331.77.

A consultancy study was undertaken to develop a new performance appraisal scheme for diplomatic officers. The costs to date are £30,954.20. The study will be completed shortly.

Last year a study was commissioned and received by the Anglo-Irish and Information Division entitled Choosing an electoral system for elections to an elected body in Northern Ireland. The cost of this study was £1,500.

A further review was ordered in my Department during this period. The Anglo-Irish and Information Division engaged a firm of consultants in July 1996 to evaluate applications for funding received under the Co-operation between Public Bodies Measures for which my Department has responsibility for implementation and monitoring under the EU Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland. A fee of £4,356 was agreed with the consultant, of which £1,936 has been paid to date. The work has been fully completed and delivered to my Department. While the commissioning of the review was made by my Department, the actual cost will be met from the technical assistance subprogramme of the EU Support Programme in the Vote of the Department of Finance.

Department of Foreign Affairs — Vote for International Co-operation

A total of 43 studies or reviews were conducted by consultants and the costs arising were charged to the vote for International Co-operation. The studies were carried out as part of the ongoing supervision and management of the Irish aid programme. The findings have been incorporated in the arrangements for the implementations of the programmes concerned. Following are the relevant details.

Purpose of Reviews/Studies	Cost 1995
	£
Lesotho
Assess the development in operational procedures in Ministery of Works Roads Branch	2,250.00
Commercial viability of the Centre for Accounting Studies	19,908.00
Identify problems and future direction for Rural Footbridges Project	2,355.00
Tanzania
Identify problems in the Kilosa Health Programme	11,962.00
Assess progress on the Small Holders Livestock Development Programme Pemba	39,438.00
Relevance of Sokoine Extension Project	7,614.00
Evaluate the performance of Kilosa District Programme	14,747.00
Review of Primary Education	15,918.00
Zambia
Kasama Primary Education	15,878.00
Zambia Country/Framework for future Programme	11,564.00
Development of Kitwe Maternity Clinics	5,750.00
Prevalence of HIV (Testing)	4,959.00
Overview of Land use patterns	6,246.00
Tourism Training	5,371.00
Ethiopia
Assess and recommend on academic co-operation between Ireland and Jimma Health Institute	7,703.00
Mozambique
Feasibility Study on rehab. of Railway lines	25,000.00
Other Projects
NGO Co-Financing Scheme	18,457.00
Computerisation of Division's Accounts	5,505.00
Fellowship Programme — objectives, structures, sectoral and regional priorities	23,936.00
Primary Health Care Evaluation	2,618.00
Environmental Assessment of Kibaale District Development Project	16,800.00
Total	265,539.00

Purpose of Review/Studies	Cost 1996
	£
Lesotho
The future development of the Centre for Accounting Studies	4,719.00
Tanzania
Tanzania Country/Framework for future programme	17,227.00
Revise/update the Kilosa District Health Plan	9,808.00
Kilosa Rural Infrastructure	4,107.00
Kilosa District rural Development Programme	8,855.00
Ethiopia
Ethiopia Country/Framework future programmes	9,000.00
Rural Development — Sidama Education — Training Design	4,261.00
Levels of community participation in Sidama Development Programme	5,747.00
Zambia
Gender Guidelines — development	16,650.00
Compound Upgrading — assess and critique progress in community capacity building	8,515.00
Urban Upgrading Kamanga and Ndeke Compounds	1,892.00
Situation Analysis Study of Laboratories	2,657.00
Recommendations on further development Lusaka City Council Research Unit	4,161.00
Completion report on Kitwe and Lusaka Maternity Clinics	5,462.00
Cytology Screening Project	1,122.00
Kilosa and Ulanga Health Programme	6,306.00
Uganda
Kakumiro/Kigadi Feeder Roads	11,382.00
Other Projects
Management Training	7,864.00
Evaluation and Audit Unit	9,723.00
Human Rights Democratisation Programme — future strategy	8,504.00
UN Reform Irish Presidency Group	9,487.00
Total	157,449.00

In addition to the above-mentioned studies carried out by outside consultants, there have been periodic reviews of departmental activities by management of the Departmental as part of their ongoing responsibility to provide the best possible service and to use the Department's resources most efficiently and effectively.

Office of the Tánaiste

A total of four studies or reviews were conducted by consultants at a total estimated cost of £49,210.62. Following are the relevant details.

A study on employment options for the long-term unemployed for the Task Force on Long-term Unemployment was conducted in 1995. The task force published its report in December 1995 and its recommendations are currently being implemented by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. The costs were £26,920.87.

A consultant prepared a seminar report for the working group on unemployment in the context of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy. The development of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy is ongoing. The cost amounted to £3,025.

A study is under way to explore the potential of the social economy to provide employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed. This is being financed jointly with the Department of Enterprise and Employment. The cost to the Office of the Tánaiste is £14,264.75.

A research study relating to violence against women in the context of the work being carried out by the working group on violence against women has been recently completed. The working group is due to report in 1997. The estimated cost is £5,000