andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Health the reason an increase of 8 per cent is being estimated for consultancy services in his Department for 1985; and how the additional £70,000 will be spent.
636.
Written Answers. - Consultancy Services.
635.
andMr. O'Kennedy asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the expenditure of £880,000 on consultancy services in 1984; the number of people employed on this work; and how these people were recruited.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 635 and 636 together. Approximately £500,000 has been spent on consultancy services to date in 1984. The major part of this relates to consultancy services provided by computer firms in the installation of computer systems for health agencies (health boards and voluntary hospitals). Standard financial systems are being implemented by Praxis Limited and for hospital administrative systems by McAuto (Ireland) Limited. These systems were selected under the aegis of the review body on computerisation in Government Services.
The following is a breakdown of the payments made to these two suppliers during 1984:
|
Praxis Limited |
£256,692.38 |
(in respect of systems/services supplied to Eastern, North-Eastern and South-Eastern Health Boards, Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, Mater Hospital, and Beaumont Hospital) |
|
McAuto(Ireland Limited) |
£37,484.25 |
(in respect of systems/services supplied to Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin) |
|
Total |
£294,176.63 |
The balance was paid to the following firms:
|
Name |
Amount |
|
Coopers & Lybrand |
£147,317.30 |
|
Stokes, Kennedy Crowley |
£24,943.22 |
|
Craig Gardner Limited |
£21,525.00 |
|
Total |
£193,785.52 |
This figure of £193,785.52 was spent on six different assignments and the average number of people engaged on each assignment was five. The business was awarded in the manner laid down i.e. proposals were invited from a minimum of three suitable firms and a decision made following examination of these proposals. The increased allocation for 1985 will ensure that we can press ahead with the systems development programme and the bulk of the allocation is earmarked for this purpose.