Vol. 470 No. 7
211 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide details of expenditure on consultancy in his Department in 1995 or the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will provide an analysis of this expenditure as a proportion of staffing and administration costs. [19725/96]
212 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the overall expenditure on consultancy by his Department in each of the years 1985, 1990 and 1995, or the most recent year for which completed figures are available; and if he will provide an analysis of these figures as a proportion of overall staffing and administration costs for each of these years. [19726/96]
216 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details in respect of his Department of the expenditure on consultancy in 1995, or the latest year for which figures are available, giving a breakdown of these figures between consultancy on information technology related developments and other forms of consultancy; if he will give details of the type of consultancy involved; and if he will give a breakdown of expenditure under the various headings. [19728/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212 and 216 together.
Consultancy assignments in my Department are in respect of computer systems development, policy development and the assessment and evaluation of schemes. Outside expertise is engaged to provide expert technical advice of a specialised nature to supplement existing resources and to provide strategic advice.
The total amount of money spent on consultancy services in 1995 was £4,158,467. This expenditure consisted of £3,922,985 for fees and expenses in respect of computer consultancy projects. A total of £235,482 was incurred in 1995 in relation to other commissioned surveys and studies.
Details of expenditure in 1995 on the various projects concerned are listed as follows.
Expenditure on Consultancy in 1995 by Project.
|
£ |
|
|
IT Projects |
|
|
Consultancy assistance with the development of an integrated short-term schemes system |
2,843,571 |
|
Assistance with development of a computer system for the payment of equal treatment arrears |
51,727 |
|
Support with enhancement of the client management system software |
82,647 |
|
Computer assistance in relation to the Department's continuous computing capability project |
13,673 |
|
Consultancy support for Digital software products |
9,408 |
|
Amendment of the An Post payment processing software to accommodate the integrated shortterm schemes payments system |
381,150 |
|
Consultancy assistance in connection with the network redesign project |
337,466 |
|
Assistance with the review of the Department's information systems plan |
76,632 |
|
Support with the audit review of the Department's central records database |
46,797 |
|
Maintenance support of the appeals office system |
17,425 |
|
Consultancy assistance with the technical aspects of information dissemination in the Department |
44,715 |
|
Subscription to research, advisory and strategic planning services |
17,774 |
|
Sub-total |
3,922,985 |
|
Commissioned Surveys and Studies |
|
|
A survey and analysis of rent and mortgage supplements |
2,500 |
|
A national survey of occupational and personal pension schemes |
48,400 |
|
A review of the purpose, functions and activities of the Combat Poverty Agency |
32,670 |
|
A study of the costs of social housing |
12,100 |
|
Assistance with an evaluation of the back to work allowance scheme |
51,210 |
|
Support with a study of the document management requirements of the pensions services office |
27,309 |
|
Consultancy support in relation to the Department's strategic management initiative |
9,890 |
|
An independent market research survey on the services provided by the Department |
24,003 |
|
Consultancy assistance in connection with the analysis of staffing and case loads of the money advice and budgeting service |
10,000 |
|
Advice on security aspects in the use of the social services card |
5,402 |
|
Public relations advice |
3,924 |
|
Advice on the social impact of the possible establishment of a casino in Ireland |
2,452 |
|
Legal fees consultancy |
2,046 |
|
Consultancy assistance with the child benefit review group |
1,550 |
|
Assistance with the development of accounting and reconciliation systems |
1,058 |
|
Assistance with the analysis of supplementary welfare allowance survey data |
968 |
|
Sub-total |
235,482 |
|
Total |
4,158,467 |
|
£ |
|
|
1985 |
590,511 |
|
1990 |
523,427 |
|
1995 |
4,158,467* |
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
(a) Staff costs |
1.65 |
1.01 |
5.35 |
|
(b) Total administration costs |
0.6 |
0.39 |
2.15 |
