Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of contracts or procurements funded directly or indirectly by his Department during the past seven years in respect of which cost overruns have occurred; the full extent of such overruns; the cause or causes of same; the action taken to prevent a reoccurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4543/04]

Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Contracts in my Department are generally of limited cost and of an advisory nature and significant cost overruns are therefore not a frequent feature. My Department has identified two contracts in which overruns occurred. A contract with the IPA for a review of the internal audit function in the Department saw an increase of €5,445 on an original contract price of €3,630. The cost increase arose because it became clear, after the commencement of the project, that more in-depth interviews were necessary to complete a satisfactory review.

In the NDP/CSF information unit, which operates under the aegis of my Department, a contract with Drury Communications Limited for public awareness research saw an overrun of €2,767 on a contract of €48,567 because the survey questionnaire finally agreed was significantly longer than originally estimated.

Prevention of a recurrence in the sort of cases mentioned above would require more comprehensive specification of the projects prior to commencement and this will be done as far as possible. Presumably the Deputy's main interest is in relation to capital projects. In view of this and although the OPW is not funded directly or indirectly by my Department, that office will communicate any relevant information in relation to its contracts or procurements during the past seven years direct to the Deputy as soon as possible.