Consultancy Contracts Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Ceisteanna (539)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

539. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since the Executive came to office; the cost of each in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31141/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The information requested is currently being compiled by my Department and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to my reply dated 11th July 2018 to Parliamentary Question No. 539 (Ref No.31141-18), in which I indicated that the information requested was being compiled within my Department and would be made available to you as soon as possible.

I understand that the period in question relates to reports commissioned by my Department since 6th May 2016, the date the current government came into office.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide expert analysis and advice over a wide range of areas, which includes the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making. The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework.

A breakdown of annual expenditure on consultancy and IT external service provision, and a list of purchase orders for €20,000 and above, are published on the Procurement Policy page of the Department’s website http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Procurement-Policy.aspx. In addition, in accordance with FOI legislation with effect from January 2016, details of public contracts awarded over €25,000 are also available to view on the Department’s website.

The following appendix to this letter lists in tabular form the external consultancy reports commissioned by my Department since the 6th of May 2016.

APPENDIX:

PQ 31141-18 – External Consultancy reports commissioned by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection since 6 th May 2016.

External Consultancy Report	Amount spent (€)
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund as at 31st December 2015	€281,670
Assessment of Indoor Air Quality - Longford Headquarters	€1,913
Back to Education Allowance Qualitative Study	€50,670
Consultancy on Procurement Contract	€4,244
Compliance of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679	€301,350
Data Protection – General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Scoping	€3,444
Development of NFQ Programme for training in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection	€29,900
External review of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s website	€59,100
Fire Safety Audit on Con Colbert House	€1,500
Health & Safety Risk Audit - Longford Headquarters and Intreo Office	€1,224
Indecon independent review of the amendments to the One-Parent Family payment since January 2012	€104,944
Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey 2016	€124,550
Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey 2017	€117,372
Joint Research Programme on Retirement	€29,500
Measurement and Analysis of Household Income & Living Conditions 2017 Programme: 1. Technical paper: examine the feasibility of conducting dynamic analysis to explore poverty and deprivation transitions over time and between different social risk groups 2. Research report: examine the poverty and deprivation experience of the different risk groups, both dynamically and across a set of selected EU-countries	€94,070
Provision of Security Partner Services	€14,673
Research into Development of Pensions, Longer Working Hours and Retirement Policy	€32,000
Review of the Local Employment Services and Job Club services	€87,232
Review of the Predictive Analytic Modelling Solutions.	€9,471
SAFE – Expert Advice	€61,194
Social Inclusion Forum 2016 – Conference Report	€1,650
Social Inclusion Forum 2017 – Conference Report	€1,750
Social Protection Research Innovation Awards	€10,558
Study to explore the drivers of negative employment outcomes of participants on the Back to Education Scheme	€41,228
Survey of Employers (including JobsPlus employers)	€ 30,750
Treatment Benefit Privacy Impact Assessment	€ 7,749