Dermot Ahern
Ceist:59 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the overall cost of private consultancies engaged by his Department in each of the years since 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6426/96]
Written Answers. - Private Consultancies.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to date is shown below. Information relating to the years from 1987 to 1992 is not readily available. Detailed research would be required to collate this information at a disproportionate cost in terms of staff time and resources.
The costs have been broken down between the Department's own Vote and the second Vote which comes under the aegis of my Department, i.e. the Vote for International Co-operation.
|
Vote |
Foreign Affairs |
International Co-operation |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
1993 |
6,460.00 |
105,656 |
|
1994 |
30,420.85 |
225,195 |
|
1995 |
66,572.36 |
238,870 |
|
1996 |
17,032.50 |
6,726 |
Since 1993 the costs of consultants on the Foreign Affairs Vote have been, in the main, related to the upgrading of the Department's financial management system and library service, the legal division and training. However, in 1994 a consultant was also engaged to advise on the preparation of the Department's strategic management plan.
The bilateral aid programme is funded by the Department's Vote for International Co-operation. Specialist consultants are employed to assist in identifying, designing, appraising and evaluating aid projects funded under the programme.
Details regarding consultancies in the Office of the Tánaiste since its establishment in 1993 are as follows: 1993, nil; 1994, £2,534.13; 1995, £26,920.87.
Expenditure in 1994 relates to a consultancy undertaken in the context of the strategic management initiative.
The expenditure in 1995 relates to work undertaken on behalf of the Task Force on Long-Term Unemployment which was chaired by the Office of the Tánaiste.