Written answers
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Department of Defence
Consultancy Contracts
9:00 pm
Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Defence the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4812/09]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy in relation to consultancy firms used by my Department during the period 1 January 2008 to 14 October 2008 is set out in the following table. No new contracts have been entered into by my Department in the period from 15 October 2008 to date.
| Year | Name of Consultancy firm | Work Carried Out | Cost of Project | Status |
| € | ||||
| 2008 | Murray Consultants | Implemented a Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning. The contract provided for the development of the Emergency Planning website, drafting, publication and distribution of a handbook on Emergency Planning and a media advertisement campaign associated with the launch of the handbook. | 1,847,673 | Project complete. |
| 2008 | Magnum Opus | To provide project support services for the National Emergency Coordination Centre | 36,905 | Project ongoing. |
| 2008 | Entograph | Carried out a study to review and evaluate options for bracken control in the Glen of Imaal and identify a plan for its control. | 30,129 | Project complete. |
| 2008 | PA Consultant Group | To make recommendations on the best means of meeting the medical requirements of the Defence Forces. Estimated cost of the review is €95,000 excluding VAT. €60,138.09 was paid in Nov. 2008. | 60,138.09 | Project ongoing. |
| 2008 | Dr. Eileen Doyle | To act as external expert and to chair the Independent Monitoring Group to review progress made by the PDF since the publication in 2004 of the report 'Response to the Challenge of a Workplace'. | 37,109.12 | Project complete. Report formally launched on 17 December 2008. |
| 2008 | McCann Fitzgerald, Solicitors | To provide legal drafting, research and advice services in relation to the drafting of revised Rules of Procedure and new Court Martial Rules following the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2007. Two stage payments were made — €43,741.50 in March 2008. A final payment of €16,153.50 was made in August 2008. | 59,895 | Project complete. |
| 2008 | Mott Mac Donald Ltd | To carry out a review of Safety Policy at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Value of contract is €50,000; final payment made. | 50,000 | Project complete. However ongoing advice and assistance will be provided in relation to the implementation of the Policy for a period of 3 years. |
| 2008 | BMT Defence Services, UK | Consultants engaged in relation to the Naval Vessel Replacement Programme. Two stage payments made to date — €45,643 (September 2008), €25,000 (December 2008). | 70,643 | Project ongoing. |
| 2008 | FGS Consulting | VFM Review of Military Training Lands. Two stage payments made to date, in November 2008 and December 2008 of €60,500. Total value of contract is €90,000 incl. VAT. Balance of €29,500 to be paid on completion of the Review in 2009. | 60,500.00 | Project ongoing. |
There is an ongoing capital building programme in my Department designed to modernise the living, training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces, both Permanent and Reserve. Consultants with appropriate expertise are engaged by my Department as necessary to provide technical services in connection with building and engineering projects. It should be noted that (as per Comptroller and Auditor General, Report on Value for Money 'Consultancies in the Civil Service' 1998) such design and engineering consultancies for capital projects are better examined in association with the construction projects to which they relate. My Department spends approximately €2m annually on Construction Consultants' fees.
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