Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the consultancies awarded to Deloitte & Touche since 1 July 1997; the cost of each; and the purpose of same. [28404/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Details of consultancies awarded by my Department to Deloitte & Touche since 1 July 1997 are outlined in the following table:

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of contracts awarded by him to outside consultants in respect of each year since 2000; if he will identify the recipient of the contract in each case; the details of the work covered by the contract; the original estimate of the cost of the contract; the final amount paid in respect of each such contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28353/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28, Foreign Affairs, and Vote 29, International Co-operation. The Department commissions consultancies where specialised knowledge and-or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of the Development Co-operation Ireland, DCI, programme, where an independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. The awarding of the contracts referred to below is done at official level and I have had no personal involvement in the process.

The information requested by the Deputy for Vote 28 is set out in table A below. The Deputy may wish to note that the majority of expenditure on consultancies for 2002 to 2005 relates to the upgrading of the Department's information technology infrastructure at headquarters and in our missions abroad, and to the development of an automated passport production system, APS.

The upgrading of the Department's information technology infrastructure commenced in 2002 and covered a broad range of technologies that required specialised expertise in a number of areas. No fixed contract was agreed with a single supplier. Instead, rates were agreed for specialised expertise with several suppliers and these were utilised on a draw down basis, as and when required. The spending in this area came in under budget in each of the years in question.

The automated passport production system, APS, was essential to meet demands for passports in an efficient and effective manner and to comply with new international security regulations. It has delivered, to quote the United States authorities, a superb product. Costs associated with the APS are contained in years 2001-05. The actual contract price for the APS system was budgeted at €21.8 million in December 2002. However, during the implementation of the contract, the Department saw the need for further additions to the project and the final outcome for non-recurrent costs was €27.7 million. The APS project is primarily procurement and delivery of service rather than consultancy in the narrow sense. BearingPoint were the main contractors for the APS project and, as such, had responsibility for the supply of hardware, software, design solutions and development. These costs are all included in the figures provided.

A daily rate, based on salary scales at retirement, was agreed with a small number of former officers of this Department who acted on behalf of the Department on international bodies. A daily rate was also agreed with those who provided specialised legal advice.

In 2003 and 2004, payments relating to the EU Presidency website were made to Labyrinth and Amas. Also during this period, payments were made to Red Dog Design for the design of the EU Presidency logo, the branding of the Presidency and other project management costs for campaigns to promote regional awareness of the Presidency and to promote the associated website. These payments also included ancillary production charges covering printing, display units and backdrops, etc. The final outturn costs reflected a combination of the agreed tender fee, together with the volume of services and supplies provided.

The information relating to Vote 29 is set out in table B below. DCI consultancies cover a wide range of sectors including HIV-AIDS, education, health and rural development. A high proportion of the contracts under Vote 29 concern the monitoring, review and evaluation of development programmes and projects commissioned at headquarters to ensure quality and value for money. These contracts are almost always based on a daily rate of payment with a maximum number of days stipulated in the contract. Tight limits on necessary subsistence and travel expenses are also set out in the contract so that the total payments made reflect the original agreed cost. There can be minor variations in travel and subsistence costs.

In addition to the HQ commissioned contracts, our aid missions in Africa use locally based consultants from time to time to evaluate aspects of the programme in the field. Details of these contracts are being assembled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.