Vol. 493 No. 3
164 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the working groups, reports, studies and consultancies commissioned by her Department since taking office; the estimated cost of each, where applicable; the date the report of each was received or is scheduled to be received; and whether each has or will be published. [15761/98]
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following schedule.
Department of Public Enterprise
|
“Working Groups, Reports, studies and consultancies” commissioned since 26 June 1997 |
Estimated cost (incl. VAT) |
Date Report received |
Date Report scheduled to be received |
Will Report be published? (Yes/No) |
|
|
1. |
This Department and BGE are carrying out a joint study of natural gas demand to the year 2025 to determine the optimal long-term transmission infrastructure necessary to cater for the projected demand. Consultants have been appointed by BGE to deal with technical aspects of the study. The Department will have to engage consultants at a later stage but the cost is likely to be borne by BGE. |
Minimal administrative costs incurred by Department. BGE is funding the bulk of the study costs. |
– |
Before September 1998. |
No. |
|
2. |
A Consultancy Study on the Refining and Trading operations of the Irish National Petroleum Corporation and the oil supply situation in Ireland was awarded to Arthur Andersen on 27 June 1997. |
£133,100 |
9 January 1998. |
– |
No. |
|
3. |
A Review of the Irish Road Haulage Sector is being carried out by the Department. A Consultancy Study was awarded to Indecon Economic Consultants and Coopers and Lybrand. |
£280,000 |
– |
End December 1998. |
Yes. |
|
4. |
A Strategic Review of Rail Safety is being carried out by (International Risk Management Services, Michal Hamlyn Associates, Carl Bro. Rail and Metz and McLennan). |
£192,800 |
– |
September 1998 |
Yes. |
|
5. |
Review of Exchequer subvention to CIE (Coopers & Lybrand). |
£24,200 |
– |
July 1998. |
No. |
|
6. |
An ad hoc group was set up in September 1997 to discuss the implications of the current Postal Directive. This ad hoc group consists of representatives from An Post and the Irish Association of International Express Carriers and this Department. |
None. |
– |
Before the end of August 1998. |
No. |
|
7. |
Ewbank Preece O hEocha - Engineering Evaluation of ESB's proposals for the Refurbishment of Ferbane Power Station. |
£7,744 |
23 December 1997. |
– |
Yes. |
|
8. |
WS Atkins International Ltd: Dublin Light Rail: Appraisal of Alternative Surface and Underground Options. |
£251,000 |
April 1998 |
– |
Yes. |
|
Major (Retd). C.B. Holden: Safety Consultant to Railway Inspecting Officer |
£12,100 |
||||
|
Transportation Systems and Market Research Ltd: Advisors to the LRT Monitoring Committee. |
£48,000 |
||||
|
9. |
An ad hoc group comprising officials from the Department of Public Enterprise and a representative of the Employment Equality Agency was established to consider equality issues in State Bodies under the remit of this Department. The Group will report to the Minister. |
Minimal administrative costs |
– |
4 July 1998 |
No. |
|
10. |
Institute of Public Administration (IPA) retained to assist in the organisation of the ‘Communications Technology in the Community’ conference. |
£10,000 |
– |
The papers for the conference were finalised in June 1998. |
Yes. |
|
11. |
IPA retained to assist in the organisation of a symposium on electronic commerce. |
£5,000 |
No report is to be produced |
– |
N/A |
|
12. |
A consortium of consultants lead by Norcontel retained to run an open tendering competition for the allocation of EU Structural Funds. |
£158,409 |
– |
A report of the evaluation of tenders is expected to be submitted to the Minister in late summer |
No. |
|
13. |
An advisory Committee for Telecommunications was established by the Minister to develop a strategy for the future of the communications and electronic commerce sectors in Ireland. |
estimated at £500,000 |
– |
The group is due to report in late 1998 |
Yes. |
|
14. |
”Training Needs Analysis” for Met Eireann was commissioned from Precept Consulting. |
£22,000 |
29 May 1998 |
– |
No. |
|
15. |
The Department has commissioned AEA Technology plc (acting through ETSU Oxfordshire U.K.) to conduct assessments of the proposals received under the Third (a) and Fourth (b) Alternative Energy Requirement competitions (AER III and IV). |
(a) £219,512 Stg and (b) £107,814 Stg |
July 1998 |
– |
No. |
|
16. |
Background industry research in relation to the possible sale of TEAM Aer Lingus. |
£3,935.00 |
January 1998 |
N/A |
No. |
