Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

1729 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of funding for consultant and related study contracts which has been approved as part of the 2002 Departmental Estimates and the budgets in each organisation and agency falling within her Department's aegis for this type of work; the degree of cutback compared to 2001; the consultancy projects which have been cancelled or postponed as a consequence of the cutbacks; the capital projects which will be postponed as a consequence of the cutback in consultancy budgets; the consultancy projects under consideration with her Department and its agencies which will be funded in 2002 [17188/02]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan):

The main element of my Department's consultancy budget comprises provision for assistance with projects to develop and improve the delivery of the Department's services including projects in the IT area. Provision is also made for consultancy assistance in other areas, including policy development. Expenditure on consultancy fluctuates from year to year depending on the number and timing of the major change projects which are being undertaken at any time.

In 2001 expenditure on consultancy amounted to just under €5 million. This was less than projected due to the fact that expenditure on one major project to develop and modernise service delivery was substantially lower than estimated.

My Department's 2002 Estimate for consultancy expenditure is €11.564 million. Work is proceeding on a number of the projects involved, including the new service delivery model project referred to above. A detailed outline of projects to be undertaken in 2002 will be forwarded separately to the Deputy. My Department has not cancelled or postponed any consultancy or capital projects.

As far as the agencies under the Department's remit are concerned the amount of funding approved for consultancy within the overall Comhairle budget for 2002 is €220,000. Following a mid-year budget review exercise it is proposed to reduce this amount to €118,000. This proposal is as a result of over provision in the original estimate and no consultancy projects or capital projects have been cancelled or postponed. The proposed amount is €85,000 less than the actual expenditure in 2001.

No specific amount has been approved in respect of consultancy and related contracts within the overall budget of the Combat Poverty Agency. The agency will continue to secure the services of consultants as required in accordance with their strategic objectives, and subject to normal budgetary controls.

The Pensions Board is funded almost entirely by fees from pension schemes and it engages consultancy assistance from time to time as required within overall strategic objectives and budgetary constraints.