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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Question:

150 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the tendering process that took place before his Department awarded a company (details supplied) the contract to undertake a detailed evaluation of recent developments in the housing market, including an examination of supply and demand for housing; the total number of consultancy firms which expressed an interest in carrying out this work; the cost of the contract involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15850/00]

Peter Bacon and Associates, economic consultants, were appointed by my Department earlier this year to evaluate and review measures taken by Government and other recent developments in relation to housing demand, housing supply and house prices and to review general housing market developments since the publication of Action on House Prices – April 1998 – and Action on the Housing Market – March 1999. These consultants were first appointed to review developments in the housing market in November 1997, following full open public advertising and tendering procedures.

At the time of completion by the consultants of An Economic Assessment of recent house price Developments – April 1998 – there was agreement that further work would be carried out as necessary in reviewing developments in the housing market, and a report, entitled The Housing Market: An Economic Review and Assessment, was produced by the consultants in March 1999. On this occasion, a single tendering procedure was followed as it was considered that the current project was closely linked with previous studies on house prices, that Peter Bacon and Associates were the most suitable consultants in view of expertise gained from previous studies and that there would be benefits in maintaining continuity.
The consultancy fee for the study is £49,610 inclusive of VAT. The study will be completed shortly and will be considered by Government, together with a comprehensive policy response, as soon as possible thereafter.
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