Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2004
85 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13204/04]
View answerMy Department has entered into a very significant number of contracts, projects and procurements during the past five years in order to fulfil its administrative functions. The Deputy tabled a similar question to this one earlier this year, and at that time I informed him that assessing all contracts and procurements, and establishing whether or not overruns occurred and the nature of those overruns, would require considerable staff time and resources, and could not be provided within the time available. I instructed officials of my Department to compile the details for the Deputy. I wrote to the Deputy on 9 March 2004, and forwarded a complete list of overruns during the previous seven years, together with details of the reasons for the overruns, and the actions taken to prevent reoccurrence.
Establishing whether any further cost overruns have occurred since my reply last March to the Deputy will take some time, and, in order to ensure the accuracy of the reply, will not be available within the current timescale. I have therefore again instructed officials of my Department to compile details of any overruns since my letter to the Deputy last March, and have them forwarded to him as soon as possible.
