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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 6

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

97 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by her Department in 2000, 2001 and 2002; the numbers of consultants engaged by her Department in those years; the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by her Department in these years and for the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30265/03]

During 2000, 2001 and 2002, my Department spent a total of €9,693,395 on consultancies. For the Deputy's benefit, a comprehensive list of the consultants engaged, including details relating to the purpose of the consultancy, and the expenditure on each consultancy are set out in the accompanying table.

My Department continues to seek greater efficiencies, effectiveness and value for money in the administration of its financial resources. My Department's requirements for consultancy arise only where appropriate skills, knowledge or expertise are not available within the Department, or where a particular need arises that cannot be addressed within the resources available. When it becomes necessary to engage consultants, Government tendering procedures are followed, which ensures that contracts are awarded to the most suitable and cost effective tenderer. Where possible, my Department utilises the expertise available in other Departments and offices, such as obtaining legal advice from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in preference to engaging external consultants.

A feature of the Department's procedures for approving funding for consultancies under the consultancy subhead – subhead A07 – is that before any funding is approved by the management board, the section requesting such funding must make a strong business case, outlining the anticipated benefits, the value-added nature of the consultancy, and the argument for engaging outside consultants in preference to undertaking the work using the internal resources of the section.

I would point out to the Deputy that, even on occasions where consultants are engaged, significant skills transfers occur, where officers of the Department learn from the expertise, techniques, etc of the consultants. Additionally, training and development resources are allocated to encourage participation in appropriate third level and postgraduate courses, designed to meet the business goals of the Department. During the period in question, 26 staff participated in courses designed to enhance their competencies in the areas of policy analysis, economic policy studies and project management. This training will contribute towards reducing dependency on consultants in future years. Furthermore, a number of officers in my Department have undertaken training courses provided through the Department of Finance's expenditure reviewers network, to provide them with the appropriate skills sets and techniques to undertake work which may otherwise have needed to be undertaken by external consultants. Although the input of consultants is still sometimes required in some expenditure reviews, the level of input and the associated expenditure is considerably reduced.
In light of the need to pursue greater efficiencies and value for money, my Department will continue to endeavour to ensure that any funding provided for consultancies is necessary, and results in the optimal use of the Department's financial and human resources.
Consultancies 2002

ESRI/Goodbody's

Impact Evaluation of EU Employment Strategy

129,551.00

Bearing Point

Review of Vocational Training for People with Disabilities

52,136.87

Fitzpatrick Associates Economis Consultants

First interim Evaluation and Mid-term Evaluation of the EQUAL Programme

23,716.00

Chapman Flood Mazars

Evaluation of Measure 5 of the Small Business Operational Programme

5,333.00

Internet Business Ireland

Development of ESF Website

8,407.00

Institute of Public Administration

Research on Customer Care standards

26,681.00

Economic and Social Research Institute

Research on National Minimum Wage Levels

43,415.00

Cork Institute of Technology

Research on the adoption of Environmental tools and Practices by Irish Companies

19,433.00

Ryan Glennon & Co Ltd

Research on Shannon Development Financing flows

29,754.00

Darkhorse Marketing Solutions Ltd

Survey of Equity Capital

14,520.00

Matheson Orbmsy Prentice Ltd

Research on Regulation of Unsolicited Commercial Emails

7,260.00

Irish Management Institute

Action Learning Research Project

8,380.00

NUI Galway

IR – Research on Change

21,496.00

Deloitte and Touche

Consultancy Assistance re Financial Management System

35,337.00

Eamonn Leahy, Leahy & Co

Assistance with Late Payment Legislation

4,823.00

Burtenshaw Kenny Consultants

Investigation under the Anti Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy

4,159.10

New Ways of Working

To evaluate the Dept's Teleworking Pilot Scheme

4,598.00

Mercer Human Resource Consulting Ltd

Review of the staffing, recruitment and business process of the LRC

96,558.00

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

Cross Departmental Feasibility Study on delivery of a No. of Gov services

270,737.50

Bunnyfoot

Usability and Accessibility review of BASIS website

26,228.28

Bluewave Technology

Preparation of Access Development Standards

11,858.00

Connect Global Solutions

Development of Phase 1 of the Intranet

45738

Currach Technology

Development of the Employment Rights Enforcement System

384,979.00

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Development of an ICT Strategy

63,404.00

Computer Associates

Review of Backup Strategy

6,000.00

Bluewave Technology

Access development

11,150.00

Similarity Systems

Data clean-up

17,606.00

RG Consultancy

IT: support and maintenance

571.34

RG Consultancy

IT: support and maintenance

998.25

RG Consultancy

IT: hardware and software development services

2,262.70

RG Consultancy

IT: hardware and software development services

5,989.50

RGC Technologies

IT: software development services

732.05

RGC Technologies

IT: support and maintenance

25,083.30

Ryan Glennon & Co Ltd

Financing Review of Shannon Development

29,753.90

Farrell Grant Sparks

Preparation of report on Mainstreaming for EQUAL C.I.

23,999.20

Fitzpatick Associates

Interim and Mid Term Evaluation for EQUAL C.I.

23,716.00

Sword SA

e-register and Database

56,195.38

Sword SA

e-journal

2,050.95

Propylon

e-journal

68,970.00

Indecon Economic Consultants

Background research and analysis for Authority's Study of Professions

132,767.00

Maria Gilsenan & Co

Human Resurce consultancy connected to Authority's recruitment programme

9,420.00

Marsh Financial Services Ltd

Expert analysis of insurance issue

3,267.00

MRBI

Research project into awareness of competition

26,741.00

LECG. Ltd

Background research and analysis for Authority's Study of banking sector

81,150.00

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Executive recruitment of Member of the Competition Authority

33,630.00

O'Mara Geraghty McCourt

Ongoing Legal Consultancy-Provision of Legal Advice to Director of C.A.

94,638.00

O'Donovan Associates

Ongoing Financial Consultancy

73,051.00

Caden Communications

Ongoing PR consultancy regarding Communications

38,192.39

Enterprise Ireland

Ongoing Testing Services of electrical appliances

2,262.70

System Dynamics

Development of Specification for Database

9,317.00

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

To examine criteria for selection public interest companies

38,236.00

P-E Consultancy Services (Ireland)

To assist in Interim Board to select a C.E.O.

10,200.00

Concept Design Group

To design a logo for IAASA

2,000.40

Michael O'Leary

Legal

1,210.00

James Devlin

Legal

12,625.00

Declan Murphy

Legal

4,040.00

BARK

IT

8,700.00

Brian Cregan BL

Legal

4,600.00

Shane Murphy S.C.

Legal Opinions

4,800.00

Grainne Clohessy BL

Legal Opinions

600.00

Paul Anthony McDermot BL

Legal Opinions

3,000.00

William Abrahamson BL

Legal Opinions

300.00

Richard Nesbitt, S.C.

Legal Opinions

800.00

Mark Sanfey BL

Legal Opinions

15,600.00

Mark Sanfey BL

Legal Opinions

12,500.00

Eoghan Fitzsimons S.C.

Legal Opinions

22,200.00

Eoghan Fitzsimons S.C.

Legal Opinions

19,800.00

Mark Sanfey BL

Legal Opinions

4,000.00

Eoghan Fitzsimons S.C.

Legal Opinions

8,000.00

Michael Collins S.C.

Legal Opinions

2,000.00

Remy Farrell BL

Legal Opinions

8,100.00

Paul Anthony McDermot BL

Legal Opinions

3,000.00

Shane Murphy S.C.

Legal Opinions

2,500.00

Michael Cush S.C.

Court-related Documentation and Representation

12,700.00

Eanna Molloy S.C.

Court-related Documentation and Representation

8,300.00

Gwen Malone

Stenography Services

4,900.00

Rochford Brady Legal Services Ltd

Outdoor Legal Agency Work, Legal Opinions, Consultations

600.00

John O'Donnell S.C.

Legal Opinions

800.00

Roger Sweetman S.C.

Legal Opinions

1,500.00

John McBratney SC and MarkSanfey BL

Legal Opinions

34,500.00

BARK

Various Graphic Design

22,300.00

Consultancies 2001

IR£

Dept of Economics, TCD

Study of Dublin Taxi Market

4,000

Dept of Economics, UCD

Report on Health Insurance Market

9,700

Baker Consultants

IT Consultancy

1,943

Irish Management Institute

Staff Development

5,000

Clear Systems Solutions

System development + Org review projects

7,713

Coopers & Lybrand

System development + Org review projects

107,702

Deloitte & Touche

System development + Org review projects

25,834

Interact

System development + Org review projects

15,530

Oracle Europe Manu Ltd

System development + Org review projects

55,174

Lar Burke

Evaluation IT System for use in project assessment

1,331

Quest Computing Ltd

System development + Org review projects

26,305

Patrick J. Morrissey & Co Solrs

Legal fees

1,838

Michael Collins SC

Legal fees

342

AIB Corporate Finance

Consultant Study on IFI

23,595

Anne Connolly

SMI Resources

8,300

Michael McNamara

Management Consultancy Service

5,000

Phil Flynn/Dan McAuley

Enquiry under Sect 38(2) Industrial Relations Act

78,816

Tom Martin & Associates

Evaluation of Pilot Network Scheme

4,895

Sean Healy

Working Group on Sunday Trading in the Retail Sector

2,100

ESRI

Study in relation to National Minimum Wage

122,080

Exselan Computer Systems

Export Credit Sector IT System

14,134

Sword Ltd

Ptolemy System for Patents Office

155,000

Deloitte & Touche

Review of Redundancy and Insolvency System

87,000

Deloitte & Touche

Review of Community Employment Programme

54,450

Interact

Dept website development

36,025

Coopers & Lybrand

Process modelling exercise Patents Office

40,000

Coopers & Lybrand

Design Sector Study

49,822

Progressive Systems Ent Ltd

Progress database of Dept's Financial Management System

13,400

Patrick J.Morrissey & Co Solrs

Legal fees

50,223

Michael Collins SC

Legal fees

14,438

James Phillips BL

Legal fees

10,071

Fitzpatrick & Associates

Project on use of market driven approach

544

Pat Kearney

Assessment of County Enterprise Board Plans

8,700

Brendan Murphy

Assessment of County Enterprise Board Plans

2,200

Ciara McCarthy

Assessment of County Enterprise Board Plans

2,200

Ron Immink

Survey of childcare facilities funded by CEBs

4,000

Network Resources Ltd

Evaluation of Opportunities for Small Firms-Irish Public Sector Market

74,415

Chapman Flood

Study of financing needs of Small Business

47,795

Eustace-Patterson

Evaluation of Local Employment Service

29,855

BCT Communications

Advice on printing activities

605

BDO Simpson Xavier

Investigation into bank charges

28,937

EIRI Associates

Study of job options

5,324

Ernst & Young

System development and Org review projects

36,000

Michael Kelleher

Study on mobile phone antennas

7,260

Oak Tree Press

Production of “Start Your Own Business” Guide

35,400

O'Donovan & Associates

Advice on examination of applications made by Financial Institutions

35,088

O'Mara Geraghty McCourt

Legal fees

141,378

PriceWaterhouse Cooper

Production of Business Guide

41,000

Tim Hastings

LRC Annual Report

2,480

W3 Services

Web Design

14,520

Farrell Grant Sparks

Multimedia Study

10,160

IR£

Film Makers of Ireland

“AV Sector” Study

4,538

IBI Corporate Finance

Advise on sale of IFI

60,500

Imogen Bergin & Gerard O'Neill

Study of telefuture working

6,347

Kevin Bonner Business Insight

Advisory to Donegal Employment Initiatives

7,260

McGarry Consulting

Study on Franchising

24,745

Dermot McCarthy SC

Report on use of pre-hearing assessment EAT

9,600

Irish Management Institute

Design of senior management development programme

75,640

Baker Consultants

Website development CRO

20,803

Deloitte & Touche

Various IT systems upgrade and project developments

559,900

Siemens Ltd

Oracles Receivables Development CRO

22,506

Deloite & Touche

Review Job Initiatives

20,000

Filenet Ltd

Image system upgrade work CRO

1,512

Hewlett Packard Irl Ltd

Systems upgrade CRO

7,562

IBM

System development + Org review projects

25,713

Quest Computing Ltd

System development + Org review projects

40,000

Oracle Europe Manufacturing Ltd

System development + Org review projects

180,000

Sword Ltd

System development + Org review projects

141,527

CARA Computers

System development + Org review projects

25,410

Flextime

System development + Org review projects

6,115

ESRI

School Leavers Study

47,000

Patrick J. Morrissey & Co Solrs

Legal fees

7,472

Patrick Keane SC

Legal fees

5,545

James Phillips BL

Legal fees

3,725

Connolly Lowe

Legal fees

2,213

Glenwood Research

Report of National Advisory Council on Teleworking

9,200

Fitzpatrick Associates

Project on use of Market Driven Approach

16,413

Vision Consulting

Business Analysis of ESF Section

14,978

IBI Corporate Finance

Sale of IFI

24,200

Cooper & Lybrand

Design Sector Study

22,477

Ernst & Young

Business Modelling Study

27,043

O'Reilly Consultants

IT System

3,648

Dept of Agribusiness UCD, Business Insight Ltd and Davy Kelleher McCarthy Ltd

Exam of allegations into anti-competitive practices in Beef Industry

102,144

Creative Inputs

Corporate ID

13,915

Goodybody Economic Consultants

Retail Planning Guidelines Study

19,236

IndeconEconomic Dev Consultants

Evaluation of Ireland's participation in Expo 2000

87,033

Declan Murphy

Co. Law Review

4,840

Quin & Hampson

Legal Fees

775

O'Hare & Associates

Legal Fees

35,136

Gwen Malone Stenographers

Stenographers Fees

4,251

Doyle Court Reporters

Court reporters costs

3,273

Byrne Curtin Kelly

Witness Costs

363

Horwath Bastow Charleton

Liquidation Fees

169,400

Antonio Bueno QC

Legal Fees

87,687

Enterprise Ireland

Testing Services

27,662

O'Mara Geraghty McCourt

Legal Advice

65,050

O'Donovan & Associates

Consumer Credit Advice

55,541

The Radio Centre

Communications Advice

12,584

Price Waterhouse Cooper

BPR

79,376

RG Consultancy

IT System Upgrade

18,845

Kilroys Solicitors

Professional Advice

1,852

Ernst & Young

Determination of appropriate fees

14,600

EDI Factory

Electronic filing project

14,500

Deloitte & Touche

Systems Development

380,000

Clear System Solutions Ltd

System Development

1,524

Baker Consultants

Website design

6,050

Wall 2 Wall

Public Relations

10,927

McCann Fitzgerald

Legal Advice

2,147

Deloitte & Touche

Organisational Review

61,710

Slattery PR

Public Relations

2,293

CARA Computers

System development + Org review projects

75,153

Prof Martin E Cave

Technical Consultancy

2,011

Michael Power

Professional Advice

3,740

James Devlin

Consulting on aspects of consolidating Company Law

33,879

Cathy Young

Public Relations

3,837

Adrenalin Ltd

IT Consultancy

2,016

Prose

IT System procurement

49,496

Prose

IT Asset register

19,604

Deloitte & Touche

IT System remedial work

13,297

EPS

IT Bespoke system

19,542

Connest Business Solutions

IT Bespoke system

20,570

Irish Marketing Surveys

Survey ebusiness awareness

2,208

Version 1 Software

Database administration

8,712

Fitzpatricks Associates

Evaluation of failure Small Business in Ireland

46,585

Fitzpatricks Associates

Evaluation of failure Small Business in Ireland

23,100

IR£

Sword Ltd

IT System for Patents Office

108,055

Irish Marketing Surveys

Survey ebusiness awareness

2,190

CARA Computers

System development + Org review projects

12,634

Enterprise Ireland

Testing Services

12,187

Blue Wave Technology

Professional Advice

4,446

EDI Factory

Electronic filing project

19,000

Deloitte & Touche

System Development

577,421

Justin Dillon

Legal Advice

1,134

Doyle Court Reporters

Court reporters costs

10,980

Byrne Curtin Kelly

Witness Costs

9,795

O'Hare & Associates

Legal Fees

37,830

PriceWaterhouse Cooper

Organisational Review ODCA

39,480

Deloitte & Touche

Management Information Framework

155,680

The Radio Centre

Communications Advice

39,603

O'Donovan & Associates

Consumer Credit Advice

69,174

O'Mara Geraghty McCourt

Legal Advice

62,202

Consumer Association of Ireland

Pricing Surveys

19,982

ESRI

Research Study on the Impact of the National Minimum Wage

60,075

James Devlin

Consulting on aspects of consolidating Company Law

52,000

Cathy Young

Public Relations

2,519

Adrenalin Ltd

IT Consultancy

4,630

Xwave

E-public services strategy

42,000

Chapman Flood Mazars

Audits of Small Business

38,400

The Circa Group

Evaluation of Training Network Programme

88,980

Tom Martin & Associates

Review of sheltered employment for people with disability

32,580

Arthur Cox Solicitors

Legal Advice

10,200

Watson Wyatt

Professional Advice

34,950

PriceWaterhouse Cooper

BPR

99,795

Vizor Ltd

IT System upgrade

50,151

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

IT System

1,259,310

Deloitte & Touche

Euro remedial work

159,870

Quest Computing Ltd

Euro remedial work

42,984

Version 1 Software

Euro remedial work

55,440

Ernst & Young

Drafting of Procedure Manual

18,902

Deloitte & Touche

Audit work

73,853

Mercator Marketing Research Ltd

Crèche Research

7,020

Tom Walsh

Review of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989

50,000

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Consultancy on certain aspects of the RFS

18,000

Prof. Michael Bourne

Assignment re. IIPA judicial review proceedings

6,000

Colm Dunne

Assignment re. IIPA judicial review proceedings

6,000

Prose

IT System development

26,998

James Nix

Legal Consultancy

4,416

Emmet Coldrick

Legal Consultancy

4,512

Cian Ferriter

F.O.I Legal Consultancy

1,980

Wall 2 Wall

Public Relations

22,883

Maria Gilsenan

Human Resources

480

MRBI

Casual Trading Research

60,516

Baker Consultants

Redesign of routing structure

1,200

Astron Consulting

Euro business impact analysis

2,178

Version 1 Software

Database administration

40,971

Connect Business Solutions

Systems enhancement

26,284

John Hennessey

Legal Advice

39,624

Gwen Malone

Stenographers fees

5,367

IPA

Customer Care Research Project

32,185

Brian Hutchinson

Legal Advice

3,200

A & L Goodbody

Report on UCIT Regulations

2,804

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Systems strategy consultancy

103,020

Decision Support Systems

Netware consultancy

21,000

Bianconi Research Ltd

IT Security Review

17,400

Renaissance

Mail Security Consultancy

900

Sword Ltd

Systems Development

379,000

IndeconEconomic Dev Consultants

Evaluation of Ireland's participation on EXPO

43,166

Consultancies 2000

IR£

Dept of Agribusiness UCD, Business Insight Ltd and Davy Kelleher McCarthy Ltd

Exam of allegations into anti-competitive practices in Beef Industry

102,144

Creative Inputs

Corporate ID

13,915

Goodybody Economic Consultants

Retail Planning Guidelines Study

19,236

IndeconEconomic Dev Consultants

Evaluation of Ireland's participation in Expo 2000

87,033

Declan Murphy

Co. Law Review

4,840

Quin & Hampson

Legal Fees

775

IR£

O'Hare & Associates

Legal Fees

35,136

Gwen Malone Stenographers

Stenongrahers Fees

4,251

Doyle Court Reporters

Court reporters costs

3,273

Byrne Curtin Kelly

Witness Costs

363

Horwath Bastow Charleton

Liquidation Fees

169,400

Antonio Bueno QC

Legal Fees

87,687

Enterprise Ireland

Testing Services

27,662

O'Mara Geraghty McCourt

Legal Advice

65,050

O'Donovan & Associates

Consumer Credit Advice

55,541

The Radio Centre

Communications Advice

12,584

PriceWaterhouse Cooper

BPR

79,376

RG Consultancy

IT System Upgrade

18,845

Kilroys Solicitors

Professional Advice

1,852

Ernst & Young

Determination of appropriate fees

14,600

EDI Factory

Electronic filing project

14,500

Deloitte & Touche

Systems Development

380,000

Clear System Solutions Ltd

System Development

1,524

Baker Consultants

Website design

6,050

Wall 2 Wall

Public Relations

10,927

McCann Fitzgerald

Legal Advice

2,147

Deloitte & Touche

Organisational Review

61,710

Slattery PR

Public Relations

2,293

CARA Computers

System development + Org review projects

75,153

Prof Martin E. Cave

Technical Consultancy

2,011

Michael Power

Professional Advice

3,740

James Devlin

Consulting on aspects of consolidating Company Law

33,879

Cathy Young

Public Relations

3,837

Adrenalin Ltd

IT Consultancy

2,016

Prose

IT System procurement

49,496

Prose

IT Asset register

19,604

Deloitte & Touche

IT System remedial work

13,297

EPS

IT Bespoke system

19,542

Connest Business Solutions

IT Bespoke system

20,570

Irish Marketing Surveys

Survey ebusiness awareness

2,208

Version 1 Software

Database admistration

8,712

Fitzpatricks Associates

Evaluation of failure Small Business in Ireland

46,585

Fitzpatricks Associates

Evaluation of failure Small Business in Ireland

23,100

Sword Ltd

IT System for Patents Office

108,055

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