Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 4

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Phil Hogan

Question:

198 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of funding for consultancy and related study contracts which has been approved as part of the 2002 departmental Estimates and the budgets of each organisation and agency falling within the Department's aegis for this type of work; the degree of cutback compared to 2001; the consultancy projects which have been cancelled or postponed as a consequence of the cutbacks; the capital projects which will be postponed as a consequence of the cutback in consultancy budgets; the consultancy projects under consideration with his Department and its agencies which will be funded in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10934/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I can inform the Deputy that funding for consultancy and related study contracts approved as part of the 2002 Estimates, across the various subheads of the Justice Vote of my Department is approximately €8.515 million. I can further inform the Deputy that while many of the subheads within the Vote include an allocation for consultancy in relation to particular areas of work for 2002, two subheads relate specifically to consultancy and research. Funding for these two subheads has been reduced by approximately 20% on the 2001 funding. No specific projects involving consultancy or research under these subheads have been cancelled or postponed as a consequence of the reduced provision.

The following tabular statement shows consultancy projects under consideration with my Department which will be funded in 2002:

Legal Consultancy Input to the Preparation of Statutory Reports of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commission.

Consultancy re requirements for Irish Asylum Automated Fingerprinting System in order to participate in EU system (Eurodac) presenting an interim and final solution.

Research under Equality for Women Measure of NDP.

Technical Support for Equality for Women Measure of NDP.

Consultancy for Business under National Framework Committee on Family Friendly Policies.

Research on Family Friendly Policies.

Consultancy on Gender Pay Gap.

Research on women in Irish agriculture – three projects.

Training on gender equality issues for policy makers.

Gathering of gender equality statistics.

Training and information for community and voluntary pillar on gender equality.

Accenture, 1 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1, for the supply and implementation of a Financial Management System for the Department, The Courts Service and the Garda Síochána.

Helm Corporation Limited, 88 Main Street, Moira, Northern Ireland, for assistance with the establishment of a Shared Services Centre in the Department's Finance Division in Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Consultancy work in relation to the ‘Statistical Needs' commitment in PPF.

A consultancy project to examine the organisational relationship between Courts Policy Division of my Department and the Courts Service.

My Department's Childcare Directorate is preparing a request for tender to draft equality and diversity guidelines for childcare provision.

Consultancy in relation to the preparation of comprehensive guidelines for the establishment, operation, management and administration of Garda Youth Diversion Projects. The project is being undertaken on the Department's behalf by the Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology, Rathmines, in association with Mr Matt Bowden, Research and Development Consultant.

Consultancy to look at a strategy for an IT case tracking system for the Film Censors Office.

The organisations and agencies within the aegis of my Department which have a budget for consultancy and related study contracts for 2002 are as follows:

Agency-Organisation	Budget €
Equality Authority	1,100,000
National Disability Authority	1,045,304
Legal Aid Board	155,800
Land Registry	126,000
Commission on Liquor Licensing	74,914
Office of Director of Equality Investigations	69,000
Human Rights Commission*	25,000

**The Human Rights Commission is an independent body and, strictly speaking, does not come within the aegis of the Department. However, in this initial phase of its operation and pending the appointment of the Commission's Chief Executive Officer, certain financial and staffing matters fall to be dealt with by my Department.

The funding for consultancy and related study contracts for the Land Registry Vote has been reduced by 19% over the 2001 allocation. However, I am informed that no projects have been cancelled or postponed as a result of this reduction.

The following tabular statement shows consultancy projects under consideration with the agencies of my Department which will be funded in 2002:

Equality Authority

Labour market inequalities for people with disabilities.

Data deficits and work needed to address them.

Labour market needs and experiences of refugees in the labour market.

Labour market experiences of members of the Traveller community.

Labour market inequalities for older people.

Data gathering systems in relation to the labour market situation of people from four discrimination grounds.

Participation of selected groups in the Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme.

Labour market and labour market programme indicators developed in other jurisdictions.

Publications design.

EU briefings.

Strategic plan review.

Financial procedures review.

Customer Service Action Plan review.

Multiple identity issues for minority ethnic peoples with disabilities.

Inequality in Health and Health Services.

Inequality in Education.

Applying an Equality Dimension to Poverty Proofing.

Project to inform preparation of National Anti-racism Action Plan.

Background paper on insert for equality-diversity support pack.

Facts and figures booklets for nine discrimination grounds.

Co-ordination on issues of multiple identity.

Land Registry

Consultancy support for the re-design of website.

Consultancy support with the preparation and design of office publications.

Human Rights Commission

Research project on the treatment of elderly persons in long-term nursing homes.

Legal Aid Board

Development of Legal Case Management System.

Training Consultancy.

Human Resources, SMI, Partnership Consultancy.

Consultancy relating to Health and Safety Risk Assessment.

Office of the Director of Equality Investigations

Consultancy expertise to assist in consultation process for National Plan for Women.

Event Management expertise to assist in organisation of ten regional fora.

The total provision for consultancy in the Prisons Vote for 2002 is €3.12 million, which represents a reduction of $40,000 on the 2001 provision. This reduction did not result in the cancellation or postponement of any consultancy projects.

Consultancy projects which are currently planned for 2002 and which will involve expenditure from the Prisons Vote are as follows:

Consultancy relating to the Staffing and Operations Review.

Consultancy on the implementation of an IT system for Human Resources.

Technical advice consultancy on current IT systems.

IT Technical Support functions consultancy.

Consultancy on IT system support, maintenance and enhancement.

Consultancy to establish requirements for a Management Information System.

Consultancy to provide independent evaluation of the on-going CONNECT (vocational preparation for prisoners) project.

The allocation included in the 2002 estimates for the Courts Service for consultancy services is €323,000. There has been no cutback for this type of work compared to 2001.

Consultancy projects which are currently planned for 2002 and which will involve expenditure from the Courts Vote are as follows:

Appointment of Investment Advisers regarding the investment of Court Funds.

Business process review of funds accounting processes.

Development of Procurement and Purchasing Strategy.

Audit of Accountants Office.

External Quality Assurance in relation to IT matters.

Development of Business Case associated with the 5 Year Information Technology Strategy.

Development of IT Security Policy.

As regards consultancy and related study contracts on the Garda Vote, it has not been possible in the time available to obtain all the details sought by the Deputy and I will forward a detailed response in this regard as soon as possible.