Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the total amount paid to a consultancy company (details supplied) since 1997; the details of each of the contracts and services provided; the nature of controls applied in the procurement process; and if value for money has been achieved. [29560/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The amounts paid to the company in each year since 1997 are as in the table.

In addition, payments were made in respect of Reach, financed by the information society fund, as follows: 2000, €7,742; 2001, €29,043; 2002, €43,174; 2003, €39,322; 2004, €18,876; 2005, €22,152. Reach was set up in 2000, so there were no payments prior to that.

The company is internationally recognised as one that provides vendor independent, detailed ICT industry expertise. It provides industry analysis and access to its analysts through a number of membership services. It has clients in every industry sector and is ideally placed to provide examples of international good practice.

General membership services provide my Department's information systems managers with access to independent reports and research papers on various aspects of new technologies and architectures. Executive programme membership further allows senior IT management in my Department to benefit from regular access to a designated highly qualified local consultant, unlimited access to analysts worldwide and specific guidance on enterprise level industry best practice as well as access to a network of senior IT organisations.

Membership is through subscription services for which the normal public procurement tender process is not applicable. My Department has enrolled for membership at various levels over the years and the quality of the non-vendor specific material and data available has met its expectations. Given the scale and complexity of the Department's ICT, the budgets involved and the long-term implications of decisions taken, it considers that this access to quality independent advice represents good value for money.

My Department has also engaged the company on a small number of projects over the years, as follows. My Department engaged the company to carry out a resource review of its IS division in 2000 and to benchmark against similar organisations. The company was chosen as a result of a public procurement process, for which eight companies submitted tenders. I am satisfied that value for money was achieved because the report delivered on the requirements and expectations. Aspects of it have been implemented and it continues to inform ISD organisational policies.

In 2004, the company was engaged to review and validate the information systems strategy, prepared by the Department's management team. The contract was placed in accordance with guidelines for single tender procurement. The review represented value for money because it confirmed the validity of the Department's approach to its future IS strategy, as well as highlighting gaps and informing the resolution of its strategic approach.

The company was asked to carry out an independent validation of the business case and the approaches to improving the quality of data interfaces between different types of computer applications, current and future. It was the only company requested to tender for this work because of the nature and relatively small size of the contract. It was chosen for its expertise in the research and analysis of emerging trends in the software market, including integration between current and future application platforms. Value for money was achieved because the review confirmed the business case and the range of approaches that needed to be considered for future developments, including integration of existing applications with the emerging service delivery modernisation programme.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the total amount paid to a consultancy company (details supplied) since 1997; the details of each of the contracts and services provided; the nature of controls applied in the procurement process; and if value for money has been achieved. [29575/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Details of my Department's contracts with the company concerned since 1997 are set out in the table.

In October 1999, the Department held a competitive tendering exercise in which it invited proposals to prove the technical feasibility of building applications using a business object model approach. A flat fee of £50,000 — equivalent to €63,500 — plus VAT was offered for each prototype. Following an evaluation process, three companies/consortiums were selected to develop suitable prototypes, one of which was led by the company in question. The prototypes were successfully delivered in the first half of 2000 and payment was made on 7 July 2000. Procurement was carried out in strict adherence to all relevant procurement legislation and resulting contracts were drawn up on a fixed price basis. I am satisfied that value for money has been achieved in this case.

With regard to information systems services management support, there were two contracts with the company during the period. Each covered a number of years. Each procurement was carried out in accordance with national and EU procurement guidelines. The recommendations of the Department's evaluation groups were submitted to and approved by the Government contracts committee. The first contract covered the provision of assistance with a major project to ensure that the Department developed and maintained a continuous computing capability. A strategic review of the IS division was also undertaken. The second contract was for programme, project and change management support.

My Department's IS services area underwent a successful major reorganisation in the second period and the consultancy support received played a significant role in that process. A major review of the Department's ICT infrastructure, to meet emerging needs and avail of new technologies, was carried out also and is currently being implemented. The advice received by my Department under these contracts is considered to have delivered significant value for money.

The civil registration modernisation programme was a joint programme of work, between my Department and the Department of Health and Children, aimed at implementing a modern civil registration service and providing a building block for the integration of related public services. In 1999, following a competitive tendering process, the company was awarded a contract by my Department to provide support for a planning study to determine the approach to the design, development and implementation of a modern civil registration service. The tendering process was carried out in accordance with EU and Department of Finance guidelines. The total amount paid in respect of this contract amounted to €61,455.32. I am satisfied that value for money was achieved in respect of this contract.

In 2001, following a competitive tendering process, the company was awarded a contract by my Department for the design, development and implementation of a modern civil registration service. The tendering process was carried out in accordance with EU and Department of Finance guidelines. The total amount paid, by my Department, in respect of this contract amounted to €6,319,222. I am satisfied that value for money was achieved in respect of this contract.

The civil registration modernisation programme and the consequent integration with the processing of child benefit claims has been recognised internationally as one of the finest examples of best practice in public administration over the last number of years. I am satisfied that the modernisation programme has resulted in the provision of a greatly enhanced service to the public, delivered on the wider e-government agenda and represents excellent value for money.

With regard to Reach, payments to the company were made in respect of a technical architect, for advice on the design approach to the project and in respect of a contracted amount, €15,000 plus VAT, paid to a number of companies, including the company named, in respect of some of the overhead costs of preparing prototypes as part of the material to be submitted with their tender to build the public services broker. The procurements were carried out in accordance with EU and national guidelines and my Department is satisfied that the deliverables met expectations in all respects.