Thursday, 7 Jul 2016

Written Answers Nos. 321-335

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Questions (321)

Michael McGrath

Question:

321. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the structure of this team; how it will work with teams in other Departments; who has overall responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20305/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

In light of the breadth and diversity of policy and operational areas that are relevant to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, this is a matter that impacts on, and is being monitored by, all of the Divisions across my Department.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the UK referendum result on the morning of 24 June last, as part of my contingency plans, I instituted a Coordination Group consisting of relevant enterprise, single market, and trade officials of my Department, together with the Chief Executive Officers of IDA and Enterprise Ireland, to oversee the management of our immediate response, including the messaging to businesses both domestically and overseas. I am chairing this Group personally, and I will continue to do so as part of my Department’s ongoing response as developments unfold.

In addition, the EU Affairs Unit of my Department exercises a dedicated overall coordination role across all of the relevant policy areas, and represents my Department in the work that is being undertaken at cross-Government level, led by the Department of the Taoiseach, in response to the outcome of the referendum, and which facilitates the framework for my Department’s interaction with other Departments in this context.

The Management Board of my Department, chaired by the Secretary General, also meets weekly and co-ordinates the Department's own response across all its Divisions to the referendum outcome.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (322)

Robert Troy

Question:

322. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to provide, per annum, all external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March, 2011, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [20349/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The names of external reports commissioned by my Department and Offices of my Department, the costs, the date or expected date of publication and the name of the external consultants are set out in the following tables for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and to 5 July 2016. In some cases, the costs of the reports were shared with other bodies and these are noted below.

The data in respect of 2014 includes research and analysis which was commissioned by Forfás prior to the date of its integration into my Department in August 2014, and for which my Department held the 2014 budget. This research and analysis has subsequently been carried out in the Strategic Policy Division in my Department.

1 January – 5 July 2016

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title		Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Sabeo	Health check on email archive system		December 2015	Awaiting final report, Internal ICT assessment – not for publication	1,750.00
Gas Package Solutions (GPS) Ltd.,	Assessment of application for recognised third party recognition status under EU Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC		22 June 2015	Technical assessment report - not for publication	6,685.00
Capita Business Services Ltd		Review of Science and Technology Development Programme – Draft Audit Report	October 2015	Operational report not for publication	8,250.00
Ward Solutions		ICT Security Reviews	Various Dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	3,198.00
Sabeo		Patents Office ICT System Architecture Review	March 2015	Internal ICT architecture  – not for publication	4,305.00
Insight Statistical Consulting		Annual Survey of Economic Impact 2015	December 2015	Due for publication Q1 2017	46,125.00
ESRI Research Programme with DJEI & EI		Research Programme – Innovation & Productivity & Services export diversification	July 2016	Due for publication Q4 2016	50,000.00 (DJEI) 50,000.00 (EI)
Indecon Economic Consultants		Study to Examine the Affordability of Irish Housing and its impact on economic competitiveness.	March 2016	To be published July 2016	25,239.60
Indecon Economic Consultants		Review of RD&I Supports available to businesses in Ireland	24th May 2016	Ongoing	59,133.80 (23,645.52 paid to date)
Insight Statistical Consulting		Data Analysis to feed into Knowledge Based Capital study	29th April 2016	For internal use – not for publication	13,776

1 January – 31st December 2015

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Technopolis	Evaluation of Ireland’s Participation in FP7 and Horizon 2020	December 2015	Ongoing	97,237.65 (29,171.30 paid in 2015)
University of Limerick	Study on the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and their impact on employees	February 2015	Published 3 November 2015	96,670.00
Planet21 Communications Ltd.	Strategic Review of Network	January 2015	Internal ICT network assessment – not for publication	9,932.25
Ward Solutions	ICT security review	Various Dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	54,765.75
Version 1 Software	Oracle eBusiness Suite Release 12 Upgrade Assessment	November 2014	Internal ICT system assessment – not for publication	8,079.92
Copenhagen Economics	TTIP Impact in Ireland	December 2013	Published on 27th March 2015	84,896.04
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI)	December 2014	ABSEI 2014 – Report published June 2016	46,740.27 (DJEI) 46,740.27 (EI) 46,740.27 (IDA)
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Employment Survey 2015	July 2015	Survey Report published June 2016	5,965.50 (DJEI) 10,737.90 (EI) 1,193.10 (IDA)
Technopolis	Enterprise demand survey and analysis for report on Strengthening Ireland’s Market-Focussed Research Centre Capacity	February 2015	Technical input to development of successor to SSTI - Complete	30,750.00
Mazars LLP	Not in public domain.	September 2014	This report forms part of the evidence in a criminal prosecution by the DPP and will be detailed in court when the case is heard.	177,545.80
Mason Hayes Curran	Tables of Destinations and Origins to Companies Act 2014	April 2015	15th June 2015	123,000.00
Crowley’s DFK	Audit of funds transfer as part of Forfás restructuring	December 2014	Operational report not for publication	7,000.00
Capita Business Services Ltd	Review of Agency case	January 2015	Not for publication.	9,809.25
CMI	A study on the role and importance of Design in Irish-based firms in Non-Design Intensive Sectors	June 2015	Complete to be published shortly (underpinned the publication “Policy Framework for Design in Enterprise in Ireland” – published 26th of January	48, 454.65
Dr Christian Ketels	Review of Competitiveness Frameworks	August 2015	Published April 2016	34,045.00
ESRI Research Programme with DJEI & EI	Review of Expansion & Diversification of Irish Exports - Manufacturing	November 2015	Completed – due for publication Q3 2016	30,000.00 (DJEI) 30,000.00 (EI)

January – December 2014

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report - €
Technopolis	Ireland’s Future Infrastructure Needs	Q2 2015	Published as part of Innovation 2020 in December 2015	47,203.17
Ward Solutions	ICT security reviews	Various dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	35,178.00
Rits	Mobile Device Policy Assessment	September 2014	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	2,236.00
Version 1	Oracle eBusiness Suite R12 Upgrade Assessment	November 2014	Internal ICT assessment – not for publication	4,174.13
Clarion Consulting Limited	Employment Permits Administration Section Business Process Improvement Project Report	July 2014	Not for publication	52,275.00
CIRCA Group Europe Limited	Review of Ireland’s membership of international research organisations	Q1 2015	Published as part of Innovation 2020 in December 2015	61,131.00
CM International	Assessment of Public Funded RD&I Supports for Innovation in Services and Business Processes	January 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Input to Forfás report on Services Innovation published April 2014	6,000.00
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government	Ireland’s Competitiveness Scorecard 2014	Q1 2014 – Commissioned by Forfás	Input on economic complexity to competitiveness analysis.	2,600.00
Insight Statistical Consulting / Fitzpatrick Associates	Evaluation of IDA Training Grants	November 2013 – commissioned by Forfás	Input to programme of evaluations - publication Q1 2015	29,250.00 (19,188.00 paid by DJEI in 2014: balance paid by Forfás)
DCU/Fitzsimons Consulting	Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2014 (GEM)	Q4 - 2013	Ongoing - GEM 2014 report will be published	20,000.00
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Employment Survey 2014 (AES)	July 2014	Published Feb 2015	5,882.60 (DJEI) 11,337.40 (IDA/EI)
Indecon Economic Consultants	Analysis of direct & indirect economic impacts on an export-led growth enterprise policy	December 2014	Complete – input to Enterprise 2025	48,275.00 (14,482.00 paid in 2014: balance paid in 2015)
IDC	Harnessing Big Data for innovation led growth: an assessment of Ireland's progress and further policy requirements	July 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Complete – publication Q2 2015	56,690.00
CM International	Optimising Policy Intervention to Strengthen the Impacts of Enterprise RD&I in Ireland	August 2014	Complete – input to development of successor to SSTI analysis Publish 8th December 2015	36,469.00
Fitzpatrick Associates	Econometric analysis of effectiveness & impacts of agency supports	December 2014	Input to DJEI Evaluations of agency programmes. Published Q2 2015	47,970.00 (14,391.00 paid in 2014; balance paid in 2015)
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI)	December 2013	ABSEI 2013 report published January 2015	44,034.00 (DJEI) 44,034.00 (IDA) 44,034.00 (EI)
PWC	Role of Intellectual Property	Q4 2013	Input to competitiveness analysis	15,612.00
PWC	Review of Insurance Costs	August 2014	Input to published Costs of Doing Business 2015 & Competitiveness Bulletin published Jan 2016	34,440.00
PWC	The role of public procurement in driving Ireland’s competitiveness, whilst delivering value for money	Q4 2013	Published as input to Competitiveness Challenge 2014	31,340.00
Technopolis	Strengthening Ireland’s Market-Focussed Research Centre Capacity	July 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Complete – input to development of successor to SSTI analysis	84,255.00
Tom Martin & Associates	Higher Education Engagement by EGFSN	October 2014	Completed for EGFSN – not for publication	€11,931.00
AECOM	Assessing the Demand for Skills in the Freight Transport, Distribution and Logistics Sector in Ireland over the period 2014-2020	May 2014 – commissioned by Forfás	Input to EGFSN review - publication Q1 2015	€78,702.00 (National Training Fund contribution €60,601.00)
DKM RPS	Water Services & Environmental waste Issues & Priorities for Enterprise	Commissioned by Forfás in early 2014	Ongoing - input to Forfás/DJEI submissions to regulator and competitiveness reports	50.353.00
Technopolis	A Mapping of Smart Ageing activity in Ireland and an assessment of the potential smart ageing opportunity areas	July 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Input to DJEI analysis – published Q2 2015	89,605.00
Cambridge IP	An Analysis of Intellectual Property Activity in Ireland based on the existing data Phase 1	April 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Input to DJEI analysis - publication Q1 2015	40,966.38
Technopolis	A Study on enhancing the Intellectual Property activities in the firm base in Ireland	September 2014	Input to DJEI analysis – publication Q2 2015	49,138.00
E&Y	Analysis of Sectoral Ecosystems - Input to Enterprise Policy 2025	Q2 2014 – Commissioned by Forfás	Enterprise 2025 Published November 2015	61,461.00
RSM McClure Watters	Study of the Current and Future skills requirements of the Marine/Maritime Economy to 2020	June 2014 - commissioned by Forfás	Input to EGFSN review – published Q1 2015	€82,502.25 (National Training Fund contribution €63,527)
Indecon Economic Consultants	Hospitality Sector - Hotels, Tourism & Catering	November 2014	Input to EGFSN review – published Q4 2015	€78,289.50 (€39,145.00 paid in 2014, balance payable 2015) National Training Fund Contribution €60,282.92

January – December 2013

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report - €
Ward Solutions	ICT security reviews	Various dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	24,627.00
Fitzpatrick Associates	Export Licensing Administration Process Review	July 2012	Complete	47,417.00
Tom Martin & Associates/TMA	Youth Unemployment A review of wage costs and other factors which may affect the employment of young people in Ireland.	Q4 2013	Not for publication - Presented to the Troika in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policy which is a component of the Memorandum of Understanding, September 2013, as part of which the Irish Government undertook to present a report in December 2013.	5,547.30
Janet Hughes	Labour Court Review of Joint labour Committees	February 2013	Published	17,835.00
RSM McClure Watters	The evaluation of the Workplace Relations Pilot Early Resolution Service	February 2013	Published September 2013	35,498.00
First Choice Financial Services Ltd and AJS Financial Advice Ltd	Credit Guarantee Scheme “Findings and Recommendations”	July 2013	September 2013	24,600.00

January – December 2012

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report - €
Ward Solutions	Security reviews of ICT systems	Various dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	39,095.00
Version 1	ICT systems review – Patents Office	November 2011	Internal technology review – not for publication	29,667.00
Achilles Procurement Services Ltd.	Recommended Procurement Strategy for a Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS) from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court	July 2012	Published internally August 2012	2,560.00
Deloitte	Feasibility Study: Making Ireland an International Centre for Intellectual Property		Ongoing	102,872.62

March – December 2011

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report - €
Rits	IT Security assessment of new hosting site in Revenue Hosting Centre	May 2011	Internal ICT security assessment – not for publication	7,093.00
Maxima Ireland	Computer Server Virtualisation Strategy Review	June 2011	Internal technology review – not for publication	8,276.00
UCD (Dr Frank Walsh)	Review of ERO and REA Wage Setting Mechanisms	Q1 - 2011	Published May 2011	15,000.00
Greater Heights Ltd	Learning Need Analysis (NERA Staff)	October 2010	Published	15,645.00
Capital for Enterprise Ltd.	Design of Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme	August 2011	Not for publication	59,565.00

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (323)

Robert Troy

Question:

323. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total photography costs per annum for her Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance in tabular form; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20379/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I can advise the Deputy that the total photography costs incurred by my Department and its Offices since 6 May, 2016 are €461. The list of occasions for which photographers were booked, the photographers used and the breakdown of costs are detailed in the following table.

No expenditure for photography was incurred from Ministerial allowances.

Photography Costs incurred since 6 May, 2016

Occasion for which  Photographer Booked	Name of Photographer	Cost
Ministerial reception for Mr Kevin Duffy and Mr Kieran Mulvey on their retirement as Chairman of the Labour Court and Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission	Tommy Clancy	€461

The Department uses external photographers sparingly and, with a view to keeping costs to a minimum, regularly uses its own facilities and staff to take photographs in-house. My Department also avails of the panel of photography firms, selected following a procurement process undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is available for use by all Departments.

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Questions (324)

Robert Troy

Question:

324. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to provide, broken down per annum, the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department since coming into office, in tabular form; the external public relations firm used; to outline the internal departmental policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20394/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department uses external public relations providers having regard to its business needs for specialist communications advice and technical materials assistance. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum.

The names and business addresses of the providers of public relations services used by my Department and the Offices of my Department and the details of the services supplied by each since 6 May, 2016 to date are as follows:

Date	Name and Business Address	Details
6 May to Date	Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates 19 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2	To provide the Workplace Relations Commission with Communication Services (including PR; Media Monitoring advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Questions (325)

Gino Kenny

Question:

325. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the exclusion of former residents of county homes, other than from a minority of four selected county homes, from giving evidence to the mother and baby homes commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20230/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters was formally established by Government Order on the 17th February 2015.

In accordance with its comprehensive Terms of Reference, the Commission was tasked with thoroughly examining the experience of mothers and children resident in 14 named Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes to be selected by the Commission.

The criteria for the selection of this representative sample by the Commission are outlined in Section 2 of Appendix 1 of S.I. No 57 of 2015.

It is essential to recognise that in accordance with Section 9 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions. It is a matter for the Commission to decide how best to conduct the various elements of its investigations and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on matters which are for the independent Commission to decide and progress.

Persons wishing to contact the Commission may do so by writing directly to: Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, 73 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, email [e-mail] or by telephone at 01-6445000.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (326)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

326. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is aware of incidents in which children with special educational needs who had enjoyed supports as part of the previous supports system are to have these existing supports withdrawn henceforth following the introduction of the new access and inclusion model, AIM, to support children with disabilities and special needs to access preschool education; if such a removal of supports contravenes a previous commitment given by her in which it was stated that all supports currently available through the various agencies are to remain in place for 2016-17 during this transition period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20232/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Last month I introduced the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), a new programme of supports to enable children with a disability to access and fully participate in the free pre-school programme. The AIM initiative was led by my Department, in close collaboration with the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills and others.

As the Deputy notes, when introducing AIM, I emphasised that all existing supports, whether funded via the HSE or the Department of Education and Skills, should remain in place until the new model is fully embedded in the system. This approach was agreed by the three Government Departments involved in the development of the model and remains the policy position.

It is my understanding that all local services provided by or on behalf of the HSE have been issued with an instruction from HSE senior management that existing supports are not to be withdrawn from children with a disability until AIM is fully embedded. I will raise this matter again with my colleague, Mr Finian McGrath, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for disability.

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Questions (327)

Michael McGrath

Question:

327. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the structure of this team; how it will work with teams in other Departments; who has overall responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20297/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I do not have any staff in my Department that are dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union. My Department has limited exposure to EU matters and, accordingly, there are few direct implications for my Department arising from the UK's decision. My Department is appropriately represented at Assistant Secretary level in the Interdepartmental process that is led by the Department of the Taoiseach to co-ordinate Ireland's response and I will address any issues that arise within my Department's remit.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (328)

Robert Troy

Question:

328. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide, per annum all external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [20341/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In order to deliver key commitments in relation to children and young people and to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people, it is at times necessary to commission reports and utilise expertise from a range of expert individuals and bodies. My Department ensures that all reports commissioned are of direct relevance to the operational and policy commitments of my Department.

I have set out in the following table the full range of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department. Costs may include, where applicable, copy editing, design and other costs relating to publication. Separate material is provided in respect of the Growing Up in Ireland study.

Name of External Report	Date of Commission	Date/expected date of Publication	Name of External Consultant	Cost of Report
Audit of Children and Young people’s Participation in decision making in Ireland	November 2009	November 2011	Cnag ar an Doras and Sandra Roe (joint contract)	€19,890.42
National Consultation with Children Living in the Care of the State	November 2010	July 2011	Cnag ar an Doras	€25,610.00
Body Image Survey Report	March 2011	October 2011	Anam Cara	€6,800.00
Youth Work: A Systematic Map of the Research Literature	September 2011	June 2013	Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education,  University of                      (EPPI-Centre) London.	€67,000.00
Valuation report	November 2011	Internal use only	Elliott Fitzgerald Ltd.	€1,230.00
Needs Assessment for the Redevelopment of www.childrensdatabase.ie	December 2011	Internal use only	Centre for Effective Services	€18,400.00
Every Child a Home: A Review of the Implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy	December 2011	July 2013	Centre for Effective Services Penhouse Design Intacta Print Carole Devaney for proofing of report and of briefing note	€6,000.00 €5,522.70 €4,706.57 €1,360.00 Total: €17,589.27
Comhairle na nÓg and Garda Síochána survey on the Attitudes of Gardaí to Young People. Questionnaire for Gardaí and Young People	July 2012	Publication date to be finalised	Anam Cara	€7,650.00
Public Knowledge and Attitudes Relating to Children’s Rights, Welfare, Protection and Services	July 2012	Publication date to be finalised	Behaviour and Attitudes Qualitative Research – Group Facilitation Quantitative Research – Interviews Barometer Research	€42,864.98 €59,040.00 €1,107.00 Total: €103,011.98
Ireland’s Consolidated 3rd and 4th Report to the United Nations Committee in the Rights of the Child	July 2012	July 2013	Ms. Carmel Corrigan – Drafting of Report Ms. Carol Devaney – Editing, Formatting and Indexing	€12,600.00 €4,760.00 Total: €17,360.00
Strategic Human Resources	December 2012	April 2013	Mazars	€20,602.50
Internal Audit Report: Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme Internal Audit Report: ICT Shared Services Arrangements	December 2012 December 2012	Internal use only Internal use only	Capita Business Services Ltd Capita Business Services Ltd	Combined for both reports €23,803.00
Summary Report for Young Voices Have Your Say- Structured Dialogue	January 2013	March 2013	Cnag ar an Doras	€4,918.00
Care Issues Review	March 2013	Internal use only	Victor McElfatrick	€3,556.56
Report on Structural Damage	March 2013	Internal use only	Frontier Engineering Group Ltd.	€7,668.74
Staff Roster Review	April 2013	Internal use only	McGuinness Killen Partnership	€6,715.80
Role Review for Child & Family Agency	May 2013	November 2013	Mazars	€16,512.75
Care Issues Review	September 2013	Internal use only	Conal Devine & Associates	€13,636.21
Internal Audit Report: Community Childcare Subvention/Childcare Education and Training Supports Programmes	January 2014	Internal use only	Capita Business Services Ltd	€8,200.00
Care Issues Review	February 2014	Internal use only	Kieran McGrath	€13,500.00
Policy Analysis and Development on Remission of Sentence	March 2014	Internal use only	Bramell Lane Ltd	€29,151.00
Land Valuation Report	August 2014	Internal use only	Lisney Chartered Surveyors	€2,152.50
Internal Audit Report: National Children’s Detention Facility	October 2014	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€12,623.00
Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform (June 2015)	November 2014	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€15,675.00
Internal Audit Report: Transactions Audit	November 2014	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€16,858.00
Report on Ireland’s Implementation of EU Youth Strategy	November 2014	Late 2015	Carmel Corrigan	€6,300.00
"Becoming an Active Player" - Report on meeting of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Advisory Council	December 2014	Internal use only	The Change Exploratory Ltd.	€1,600.00
Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform (January 2015)	January 2015	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€16,858.00
Internal Audit Report: DCYA Governance of Child and Family Agency (Tusla) (Working Title)	February 2015	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€12,100  (to date)
Report of the involvement of children and young people in the recruitment of the Ombudsman for Children	March 2015	December 2015	Sandra Roe	€6,000.00
A report of consultations with children and young people for Ireland 2016	May 2015	March 2016	Ursula Kelly - UCC	€9,827.70
Review of Public Spending Code Return (Quality Assurance)	June 2015	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€4,125.00
Report of the process of consulting children and young people living in Direct Provision	July 2015	January 2016	Ursula Kelly - UCC	€9,948.00
Audit of education and training on children’s rights and children’s and young people’s participation in decision-making in all third level and further education programmes and continuing professional development programmes in Ireland	September 2015	March 2016	Ursula Kelly - UCC	€19,978.00
Report of the workshop discussions at Dáil na nÓg 2015	October 2015	January 2016	Sandra Roe	€4,000.00
Updating the  Comhairle na nÓg Toolkit	November 2015	June 2016	Cnag ar an Doras	Per diem rate –number of days to be determined
Provision of Services Pursuant to A National Consultation with Children (aged 3-5) on the National Early Years Strategy	December 2015	Internal use only	Imelda Coyne Trinity College, Dublin	€23,865.00
Scoping Report on the Development of Data  Relating to Children	December 2015	February 2016	Research Matters Ltd	€20,726.55
Research support for the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive	February 2016	2017	Dr Carmel Corrigan, Independent Researcher	€26,445
Report of consultations with children on after school care	3rd March 2016	2017	Dr. Deirdre Horgan, School Applied Social Studies, University College Cork	€11,076.27

Growing Up in Ireland

In 2006 a contract to carry out the first phase the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland was awarded by the Department of Health and Children (through the Office of the Minister For Children & Youth Affairs) to a consortium comprising of the ESRI and the Children’s Research Centre at TCD. Since then the Study has adopted the working title of 'Growing Up in Ireland'. Following another public procurement competition a contract was awarded to the ESRI/TCD consortium to carry out the second phase of the study over the period 2015-2019. As part of the overall contracts the ESRI/TCD are required to prepare and publish reports from time to time. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs meets the costs of printing these reports and since this Department was established in June 2011 the total cost of printing is €31,967.14.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (329)

Robert Troy

Question:

329. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total photography costs per annum for her Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance in tabular form; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20371/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I have not incurred any photography costs since I was appointed.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (330)

Robert Troy

Question:

330. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide, broken down per annum, the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department since coming into office, in tabular form; the external public relations firm used; to outline the internal departmental policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20386/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Since coming to office in May of this year, my Department has not employed any external public relations firms. I have no current plans to engage such firms but I would be open to the possibility where I believe their professional expertise could be of assistance to my Department.

Defence Forces Investigations

Questions (331)

Clare Daly

Question:

331. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 28 June 2016, when he will issue a reply (details supplied). [20225/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

I can confirm that there is a military investigation in relation to the administration of the Soldiers Welfare Fund as distinct from the Benevolent Fund, I had earlier treated both terms synonymously. For the avoidance of any doubt, I am advised that the investigation into the Welfare Fund is the only investigation underway. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that pending conclusion of this investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. However, I will receive a report on the findings of this investigation when completed.

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Questions (332)

Michael McGrath

Question:

332. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the structure of this team; how it will work with teams in other Departments; who has overall responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20299/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

At this point in time, the response to the decision of the United Kingdom is being dealt with within the existing organisational structure of the Department of Defence.

As part of contingency planning for a UK EU exit, a number of existing structures are in place and these will be used to manage the process on a whole-of-government basis. These structures include:

- The Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs and the Senior Officials Group that supports it;

- The joint UK Permanent Secretaries/Irish Secretaries General group and its North-South equivalent;

- The identification of a senior official in every Government Department, including in the Department of Defence, to oversee this issue;

- An Interdepartmental group of senior officials, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, that has been meeting regularly to look specifically at the bilateral and national interests affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

- A wider consultative group of stakeholders, chaired by Department of the Taoiseach, comprising key business representative groups, ICTU and NGOs has also been meeting for some months now. The work of this group will be scaled up and intensified;

- The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to use the expertise of the Export Trade Council to advise Government on this issue. The expertise of the Council will be focused on the issues arising from the UK’s disengagement from the EU.

- The work of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council will become more important as mechanisms to develop the detailed outworking of policy issues arising.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (333)

Robert Troy

Question:

333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide, per annum all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March, 2011, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [20343/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to external consultant reports commissioned by the Department of Defence since March 2011 is set out in the following table.

Report	Cost	Company	Publication Date
An independent review of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) fatalities in 1989	€51,660	Mr. Frank Callinan, S.C.	19th September 2011
Review of the Air Corps’ Safety Management System	€20,000	Jacques Michaud	14 November 2013
Third Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG)	€22,500	Dr. Eileen Doyle	3 September 2014
Consultancy report to assess the impact of an upgrade of Departments financial application software.	€24,870.60	Fujitsu Ltd	30 January 2015
Review of the Civil Defence Branch	€7,200	Mr. Jim Blighe	N/A
Research on vessels linked to Roger Casement	€4,605	Mr. John Kearon	N/A

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (334)

Robert Troy

Question:

334. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total photography costs per annum for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance in tabular form; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20373/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

My Department has not incurred any photography costs since I was appointed in May 2016.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, following an EU-level advertised procurement process, has established a Framework Agreement comprising five firms for the provision of photography services. The Framework was established in February 2012 and is open for use by all Government Departments and Offices. My Department plans to avail of this Framework Agreement as the need arises.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (335)

Robert Troy

Question:

335. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide, broken down per annum, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming into office, in tabular form; the external public relations firm used; to outline the internal departmental policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20388/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

The Department of Defence has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations since March 2011.