Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 1

Written Answers. - Consultancy Reports.

Helen Keogh

Question:

23 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the measures, if any, taken by his Department on foot of consultancy reports commissioned by him; and the overall cost of consultancies during his tenure in office. [10564/97]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

The following table set out in detail the information sought by the Deputy.

Table 1

Name	Nature of Consultancy	Gross Cost (except where stated)	Action since completion of study/review
Irish International Advertising; Comerford Technology; Mr. James McDevitt; Technometrics; Irish International Production	Series of studies on Science and Technology topics arising from the Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory CouncilWhite Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation	£1,675; £208; £2,250; £2,420; £7,260 (all payments made in 1995 exclusive of VAT)£29,703 (Publication and printing)	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.
Investment Bank of Ireland Corporate Finance Limited	Advisors to Government on sale of Irish Steel Ltd. including identification of strategic partner for Irish Steel	£239,435	Sale of Irish Steel to Ispat International completed 35-5-96.
A & L Goodbody, Solicitors	Legal advisors to Government during process of sale of Irish Steel	£257,972.23	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.
Hay MSL	Management study for Department Stratgic Management Initiative	£17,840.88 (paid in 1995)	Has provided input into improved Human Resource Management practices in the Department.
Indecon (Ireland)	Consultancy work on SMI	£2,226.40
A study of steel prices	Independent information on the market for steel in Ireland and the UK to assist in the assessment of a complaint made to the Department concerning steel prices	£2,662	The results 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	£37,624 (paid in 1995)
Dave Walsh and Associates Management and Training Consultants	Consultancy Support for Aer Lingus Task Force	£7,000 (paid in 1995)
Mr. J. Joyce, Actuary	Provision of actuarial advice for Insurance Division	£85,960 in 1995, £85,970 in 1996 and £15,246 to date in 1997
Coopers & Lybrand	Information Technology Project in the Department	£40,000 plus VAT (of which £30,536 paid in 1995 and £17,083 in 1996	Report formed basis for redevelopment of computer system in companies Registration Office which is currently being implemented
Commission on the Newspaper Industry	To assist the commission on the Newspaper Industry in its deliberations	£57,800	Report Published of the Commission on the Newspaper Industry in 1996. Minister intends to revert to Government regarding legislation in relation to recommendations within his 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 1995 and £74,590 in 1996	Development of system to automate the work of the redundancy and Insolvency Section of the Department
Quest	Information Technology Project in the Department	£1,500 plus VAT £8,984 paid in 1996	Development of computer systems in the Employment Appeals Tribunal which are now in operation
Ernst & Young	Information Technology Project in the Department	£17,787, £17,801 paid in 1995	Report formed basis for redevelopment of procedures in companies Registration Office which are being implemented in conjunction with the computer redevelopment project
EPS Computer Systems	Information Technology Project in the Department	£4,235 paid in March 1996	Development of computer system in Labour Court which is now in operation
Ernst & Young	External evaluator of the EU Operational Programme for Industrial Development 1994-99	£354,000 (Co-financed — £34,475 paid in 1996, £40,090.93 to date in 1997)
Ernst & Young	Medium-term Review of RETEX Operational Programme	£42,000 (Co-financed)
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	The recommendations of the study carried out by the Management Services Unit of the Department of Finance are being considered by the Department of Enterprise and Employment and the Patents Office in the context of the decentralisation of the Patents Office to Kilkenny
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 Department of Finance	Review of the Crafts Council of Ireland	No cost
Eustace Patterson	Development of performance/impact indicator for the Local Employment Service	£4,065	The “Performance Indicator Model” has been issued to all 18 LES areas for use in the monitoring of the effectiveness of the LES
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	As a result of the consultancy the Minister granted recognition to the IIPA under the Companies Acts, 1963 and 1990
Goodbody Economic Consultants Ltd., Dublin	External appraisal of CEB Enterprise Plans	£18,392
University of Limerick	Information technology requirements of County Enterprise Boards	£14,520 (No Payment made to date)
Mr. Arthur Nowlan. ACIS, DPA, Blackrock, County Dublin	Preparation of accounting procedures for the County Enterprise Boards	£3,150
Study by an economist (Professor P. McNutt) of the Competition Authority's report on the take-over of Conoco Ireland Limited by Statoil Ireland Limited	An independent economic assessment of the Competition Authority's report and its recommendation that the proposed take-over be prohibited and to advise the Minister in relation to same in the context of the appeal by the parties to the High Court	£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	£42,350 (to date)	Draft report being considered by the Department
KMPG	Assistance to Task Force on Enterprise and Employment	£13,495	Final report presented to the Minister in March, 1997
Competition and Mergers Review Group	To review and make recommendations on:	£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
—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
ESRI/UCD Business School	A contribution by the Department to the cost of the human resources management practices element of a national survey by ESRI/UCD of enterprise operations	£24,000	Survey is on-going
Planned Sharing Research Association	Pilot study on partnership in enterprise through operations cost savings and profit-sharing	£11,000	Study is on-going
ESRI	Purchase of ESRI's SWITCH tax-benefit model	£5,000	Used as an analytical tool within the Department of Enterprise and Employment
Fitzpatrick and Associates	Report on Social Economy	£15,000	Study not yet completed
ESRI	Examination and Monitoring of labour market replacement rates	£29,400	Study on-going
Goodbody Economic Consultants	Survey of Payment Practices in Public Sector	£16,750 (excluding VAT)	Prompt Payment of Accounts Bill, 1997 published on 11 April 1997
FORFÁS	Initial evaluation of the Local Employment Service	No cost to the Department of Enterprise and Employment as Forfás undertook evaluation from within its existing resources	Evaluation is complete. A national seminar was held on 6-7 March 1997 to consider the report. A list of “action points” has been drawn up and circulated to LES areas for consideration.
Review of Fees Structure in the Companies Registration Office	Report on Costs and Recommended Charges	£18,319.40	The Attorney General has been asked to prepare a statutory instrument
Insurance Costs in Ireland	Economic evaluation of insurance costs in Ireland	£82,500+VAT	The Report made a number of recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of insurance costs on economic activity. These recommendations are being progressively implemented. Following a major recommendation in the Report a special working group was established to advise the Government on the establishment of a personal injuries tribunal. The Working Group has consulted all the relevant representative bodies and groups and is finalising its report on this aspect of its work. The Group will then proceed to the second stage of its assignment i.e. to look at alternative systems to the tort system of delivering compensation for personal injury.
New Computer System in the Companies Registration Office	Business Process Reengineering Study	£17,801	Recommendations incorporated in tender documents issued for development of a new computer system.
Mr. Michael McNamara Management Consultant	Study of Trade Marks Examination Area of the Patents Office	Invoice has not yet been received but it is expected to be less than £5,000	Report due shortly

Table 2

Subject	Consultancy Input
Human Resources Development
An internal review is under way of national policy in the area of human resources development. 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.
A Government Policy for Services — Employment Through the Millenium	Fitzpatrick Associates provided assistance in completing the Government Strategy (published on 13 March 1997) at an approximate cost of £5,000
Enterprise Strategy
Work Undertaken — Input to drafting of Enterprise Strategy Statement	Consultancy — Fitzpatrick Associates cost £11,000 excluding VAT
	Measures (Action Taken)
	The Enterprise Strategy is nearing completion

Table 3

Name of Study/Review	Nature of Consultancy	Total Cost (including VAT)	Action since completion
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 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

* The cost of all three were/are being, met from Technical Assistance funds provided by the European Commission as part of the relevant Structural Fund Operational Programmes.