Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 2

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Mary Hanafin

Question:

67 Ms Hanafin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of consultants, if any, engaged by her Department between 1 April 1997, and 26 June 1997; the amounts paid to each consultant; the work undertaken by each consultant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15869/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

Details of consultancies for my Department in the period in question are as follows:

Fitzpatrick Associates, Economic Consultants, were requested to carry out an evaluation of the support structures which provide assistance and advice to pilot projects under the EMPLOYMENT and ADAPT Human Resources Community Initiatives in April 1997 at a cost of £10,890 broken down as follows: European Social Fund, £9,802; Exchequer, £1,088. An initial payment of £5,445 was made in July 1997 and a final payment will issue when the evaluation has been finalised.

Michael McNamara was employed to undertake a study of the Trade Marks Section of Patents Office. The fee for this consultancy was £5,000.

Fitzpatrick Associates were engaged to carry out a mid-term evaluation of the small business operational programme. The main purpose of the evaluation is to examine the impact and effectiveness of the principal measures of the operational programme. The amount paid to Fitzpatrick Associates during the period from 1 April 1997 to 26 June 1997 was £7,986.

The ESRI was appointed to carry out the annual "School Leavers Survey" at a cost of £70,800, on 19 June 1997 (half the cost being borne by the Department of Education).

The survey studies the economic activities of secondary level school leavers one year after leaving school (including all leavers, even those who left before finishing the junior cert). It studies the wage levels they command at different education levels, those engaged in third level studies, the unemployment situation of school leavers — and various other aspects of economic activity. The survey has been carried out on an annual basis since 1980 and gives invaluable data on labour market trends and conditions for second level school leavers, concentrating on those with poor or no qualifications.

As part of the pilot networks programme referred to inPartnership 2000, the Department engaged Tom Martin and Associates in May 1997 to interview and report on the experiences of a representative sample of existing networking arrangements in Ireland. Consultancy fees for this study amounted to £9,361.60.

A sum of £1,179.75 was paid to P. Morrissey, Solicitors, in respect of legal fees during this period.