Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2009
193 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Defence if he has received reports from bodies under the aegis of his Department in relation to their operation; if such will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17185/09]
View answerMy Department produces an Annual Report on the performance of the Department and the Defence Forces in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997. In addition, I receive Annual Reports from the Civil Defence Board and from the Board of Coiste an Asgard. These reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
194 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has commissioned internal or external reports in relation to his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department in the past five years; if so, the objectives of such reports; the cost of same; if such reports have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17199/09]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to reports commissioned by my Department in the past five years is as follows:
In 2004, my Department commissioned a report from an Independent Monitoring Group which was set up to give effect to the recommendations of the Doyle Report (2002) concerning Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Defence Forces. The cost of the report was €161,259. This report was published. It was not laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In 2006, my Department carried out an Expenditure Review of Maintenance of Aircraft in the Air Corps. The objective of the review was to ensure value for money. The cost included internal staff costs plus €3,220 for Report Quality Assurance by Epsilon Consulting. The report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In 2007, my Department carried out a Value for Money Review of Clothing Procurement in the Defence Forces. The objective of the review was to ensure value for money. The cost included internal staff costs plus €2,904 for Report Quality Assurance by Petrus Consulting. The report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. TNS MRBI, an independent market research company, was awarded the contract to undertake research into the issue of Recruitment and Retention of Women in the Defence Forces. The research tested women's attitudes to military life and a career in the Defence Forces. The cost incurred was €48,000. The results of this market research will assist in the formulation of policy and practice in this area for the future. This report was published. It was not laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Independent Monitoring Group that was set up to give effect to the recommendations of the 2002 Doyle Report on Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Defence Forces, was reconstituted in February 2008. The objective was to review progress and report on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2004 and 2002 reports. The cost of this report was €37,109. This report was published. It was not laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Also in 2008, PA Consultant Group was commissioned by my Department to make recommendations on the best means of meeting the medical requirements of the Defence Forces. The consultancy focused on the sustainable provision of the relevant medical expertise and services to the Defence Forces. The contract was awarded in June 2008 and the cost of this review is €95,000, excluding VAT. I am awaiting this report. The report will be published when it has been completed. Also in 2008, Entograph was commissioned by my Department to carry out a study to review and evaluate options for bracken control in the Glen of Imaal and identify a plan for its control. The cost of this review was €30,129. The report was not laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Also in 2008, Mott Mac Donald Limited was commissioned by my Department to carry out a review of Safety Policy at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The cost of this review was €50,000. I am awaiting this report. It is not expected that the report will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In March 2009 my Department commissioned Deloitte to undertake a review of its Finance Branch. The review is expected to be completed in mid-June. The objective of the review is to examine the business processes, procedures and organisational structures in operation in the Finance Branch of my Department and to provide a report making recommendations for improvements in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness. The cost is €80,550 excluding VAT. It is not expected that the report will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Also in 2009, my Department carried out a Value for Money Review of the Naval Service Vessel Maintenance. The objective of the review was to ensure value for money. The cost included internal staff costs plus €2,800 for Report Quality Assurance by Raymond Burke Consulting. The report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. A Value for Money Review of Military Training Lands commissioned from FGS Consulting is in progress. The objective of the review is to ensure value for money. The value of the contract is €90,000 including VAT. A final report is due later in the year and on completion it will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
