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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

281 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has at any time since June 1997, used the services of a company (details supplied); if so, the reason such a company was used; if this followed public procurement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20001/02]

The NDP-CSF IT unit was established to implement a management information system for the national development plan and is funded by the EU and the Irish Exchequer. The NDP-CSF IT system has been implemented in response to a requirement in EU regulation No. 438/2001 which establishes the requirements for the management and control systems for Structural Funds.

As part of the system development, specialist programmers and experts on short contract basis were required to work on certain aspects of the system. A number of recruitment agencies were invited by the unit to supply CVs in respect of candidates that were deemed qualified. After consideration of the various applications received, the NDP-CSF IT unit chose a specialist programmer supplied by Marlborough Group Ltd. The total cost was €15,693.96 incurred in 2001 in respect of 36 days at a daily rate of €381 excluding VAT.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

282 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department have at any stage used the consultancy services of companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20016/02]

My Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department have not used the services of the two companies referred to by the Deputy, in so far as can be ascertained.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

283 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department have at any stage used the consulting services of companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20031/02]

In relation to the first named company, my Department used the consulting services of this company on a number of occasions between 1997 and 1999. The total value of this work amounted to €172,674. The greater part of this expenditure arose from a publicity campaign and related items by the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland. This amount also includes the cost of advertising the availability of lo-call telephone numbers to Departments.

The first named company, on amalgamation with another company, changed its name. My Department used the services of this company in 2001 to the value of €9,730. This expenditure related to the design of newspaper advertising and the supply of copy for radio advertising in relation to the special savings incentive accounts scheme. In relation to the second named company, the Central Bank has informed my Department that a member of its staff attended a course in 2001 run by a company with the same acronym as the second named company referred to by the Deputy. The cost of attendance at this course was €290.

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