Departmental Expenditure.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004

Thursday, 7 October 2004

Ceisteanna (263, 264)

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

263 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of money paid out by his Department in public relations fees; the name of the firm that was paid the highest amount; the amount paid to a specific firm (details supplied); the amount of money paid out by the Department in other consultancy fees; the name of the firm or individual paid the highest amount for the most recent 12 month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23877/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

My Department has not incurred any expenditure on public relations fees over the last 12 months and no payments have been made to the company in question. The broad range of my Department's activities requires the engagement of a range of consultancy expertise, most of which is technical consultancy related to the development of information technology systems. The amount of money paid out by my Department in consultancy fees during the 12 month period from 1 October 2003 to 30 September, 2004 was €10.42 million approximately. This expenditure includes costs arising in respect of a number of strategic multi-annual work programmes aimed at enhancing the delivery of the Department's services, for example, the service delivery modernisation programme, general registrar office modernisation programme, REACH public service broker and other initiatives. In the period, the highest amount paid to a single firm was €4.35 million approximately paid to Bearing Point in respect of consultancy assistance provided for two projects, the development of the public service broker by REACH and the service delivery modernisation programme.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

264 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the total amount of money paid out by his Department in legal fees; the details of the firms paid the greatest amount of fees; the total amount of money paid out in legal settlements; the number of such settlements; the total number of claims against his Department, for the most recent 12 month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23891/04]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Legal advice and support services for my Department, in respect of court cases and legal challenges in which my Department is a named party, are supplied by the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, as appropriate. During the past 12 months my Department has been involved in two legal settlements. The total cost of these settlements amounted to €162,190.90, comprising a settlement element of €110,000 and a costs element of €52,190.90. A total of four claims, involving judicial proceedings, have been initiated over the past 12 months against my Department.

Question No. 265 withdrawn.