Written answers
Wednesday, 2 November 2005
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Consultancy Contracts
9:00 pm
Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and value of contracts awarded for public relations projects by his Department since December 2004. [31752/05]
Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and value of contracts awarded to outside consultants by his Department in each of the past five years; the details of the contracts involved; and if these projects have reached fruition. [31782/05]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 427 together.
The number and value of contracts awarded to outside consultants, including those awarded for public relations projects, by my Department since its establishment in June 2002 are set out in the table. Completed projects are indicated by an asterisk. This largely reflects material provided in reply to Question No. 344 on 12 October 2005. However, a number of contracts were inadvertently omitted from the appendix to the reply on 12 October 2005. Most of these had in fact already being previously notified to this House and all these contracts are included in the table.
For completeness of information I also draw attention to the contract for the development of an information system to support the administration of Leader+ and NRDP programmes. This contract was initiated by the Department of Agriculture and Food in 2002 and tender documentation assumed that the substantial IT infrastructure and staffing supports of that Department, along with software licenses it held, would support the project.
However, the new Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to which the rural development programmes transferred from mid-2002 does not have a major IT function or comparable delivery capability nor did it hold the relevant application server licences. In addition, significant enhancements, including an audit module, were required. Hence fundamental and extensive re-negotiations with the provider were required. Nevertheless it is more appropriate to regard the two processes — the initial tendering and subsequent re-negotiating — as coming within a single contract rather than two separate contracts, as had previously been described in reply to Question No. 344 on 12 October 2005.
| Contracts awarded to outside consultants each year since June 2002. | |||
| Recipient of the contract in each case | Details of the work covered by the contract | The original estimate of the cost of the contract € (Incl VAT) | The final amount paid in respect of each such contract € (Incl VAT) |
| 2002 | |||
| C.H.L. Consulting Co. Ltd * | Desktop Evaluation | â'¬1,210.00 | â'¬1,210.00 |
| Transition Management * | Working Group on Creation of Employment in Gaeltacht | â'¬10,637.49 | â'¬10,637.49 |
| An tOllamh Mícheál Ó Cinnéide, NUIG * | Review of submissions received in response to public consultation process on review of powers and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta | â'¬5,000.00 | N/A (Report received, invoice outstanding) |
| Systems Dynamics | Development of Information System to support administration of LEADER+ and National Rural Development Programmes. | â'¬192,024 | â'¬334,570.15 paid to date. Estimated completion date December 2005 |
| IBM* | Provision of assistance in the specification and selection of a new Gaeltacht and Islands Client Database in 2002 | â'¬112,530 | â'¬112,530 |
| NIRSA (National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis), NUI, Maynooth.* | Review of CLÁR areas and preparation of revised set of maps of areas eligible for CLÁR programme | â'¬4,840.00 | â'¬4,840.00 |
| Goodbody Economic Consultants * | Review of statutory funding of the Community & Voluntary sector to assist the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board in carrying out its functions. Note: This consultancy project was commissioned by the then Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs (SCFA) in May 2002. Responsibility transferred to the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs (CRGA) in June 2002. First 2 payments totalling €22,990 were made by SCFA and final payment of €5,748 was made by D/CRGA. | â'¬28,738.00 | â'¬28,738.00 |
| Deloitte & Touche* | Provision of assistance in the specification and selection of a new financial management system for the Department. | â'¬117,250.00 | â'¬117,250.00 |
| Nexus Research Cooperative* | Completion of the evaluation of the Community Development programme commissioned originally by the Department of Social Community & Family Affairs | The value of the contract offered by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs was €79,675 | â'¬72,600 |
| Deloitte & Touche* | Provision of professional accounting service between June 2002 and October 2003. | â'¬74,004.00 | â'¬71,513.00 |
| Peter Coyne & Co. Chartered Accountants, Aengus House, The Docks , Galway * | Provision of professional accounting advice regarding tenders for Aran Islands air service. | â'¬4,840.00 | â'¬4,840.00 |
| Achilles, Procurement Services, I Harmsworth, Greenmount Office Park, Harolds Cross, Dublin 6W * | Provision of procurement advice in relation to the award of ferry services contracts. | â'¬756.25 | â'¬756.25 |
| Montague Communications* | Provision of Public Relations & Event Management services to the National Advisory Committee on Drugs | â'¬139,150.00 to end 2004 and per event in 2005. New contract being drawn up at present. | â'¬150,671.14 to date |
| 2003 | |||
| Bearing Point * | Implementation of Peoplesoft Human Resources system for the Department | â'¬148,350.84 | â'¬151,944.54 . The extra cost arose from additional training required |
| Quest Computing | Development of a Gaeltacht & Islands Client Database | â'¬323,776.64 + vouched Travel Expenses at civil service rates | €358,923.37 to date including travel expenses. An additional cost of €50,000 was approved for this contract for interfaces to the JDE Edwards financial system . The costs were not included in the original contract as the Department had not selected the financial system at that stage. |
| SRL * | Implementation of JD Edwards Financial Management system | â'¬856,056 | â'¬821,373.87 |
| Core* | Implementation of Travel & Subsistence module of Financial Management system | â'¬29,958,92 | â'¬29,958.92 |
| Nexus Research Cooperative* | To develop a data collection software package (SPEAK) for the Community Development Programme and to provide support and training to projects funded under the Programme | €69,962.20 plus €450 per day, (on a needs basis), for technical support for project implementation. | 2003 €36,468.66 2004 €63,345.57 2005 €1,415.70 Total Payments to date —€101,229.93 |
| NIRSA (National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis), NUI, Maynooth.* | Preparation of further detailed maps of CLÁR areas. | â'¬1,325.00 | â'¬1,325.00 |
| DKM Consultants Davy House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2.* | Review and analysis of proposed Grant Aid Development of Cargo Apron at Knock Regional Airport under the CLÁR programme. | â'¬18,045.00 | â'¬17,818.00 |
| Fitzpatrick Associates * | Review of Enterprise Support in Rural Areas | â'¬76,351.00 | â'¬76,351.00 |
| Oonagh Breen * | Specialist advice in relation to charity law | â'¬6,500.00 | â'¬6,500.00 |
| Arthur Cox * | Legal research and assistance concerning charities regulation | â'¬65,000.00 | â'¬64,850.34 |
| Pricewaterhouse Coopers* | Systems Audit of Waterways Ireland | â'¬6,500.00 | â'¬5,505.50 |
| Institute of Public Administration* | Review of Internal Audit Function as required under Mullarkey Report | â'¬10,890.00 | â'¬10,890.00 |
| Goodbody Economic Consultants * | To assess all applications which were received under the funding scheme to support the role of Federations, Networks and Umbrella Bodies in the Community and Voluntary sector | â'¬34,183.00 | â'¬34,183.00 |
| Colgan & Associates* | To assess all applications which were received under the funding scheme to provide training and supports in the Community and Voluntary Sector | â'¬25,168.00 | â'¬25,168.00 |
| Deloitte & Touche* | Provision of advice and support in the areas of project management, quality assurance, business process redesign, user acceptance testing, change and risk management and post go-live support in relation to the implementation of a new financial management system in the Department. | â'¬167,312.00 | â'¬288,838.00 The extra cost arose from a decision to extend the scope of the contract to provide full-time support and knowledge transfer to departmental personnel, post go-live. |
| Farrell Grant Sparks * | Review of property and equity portfolio of Údarás na Gaeltachta | â'¬83,883.25 | â'¬83,883.25 |
| Fitzpatrick Associates in conjunction with Brendan Kearney Associates Ltd * | Mid-term evaluation of the LEADER+ Community Initiative. | â'¬100,370 | â'¬100,370 |
| Indecon Consultants * | Review of Area Development Management Ltd. | â'¬99,558.80 | â'¬99,558.80 |
| Achilles, Procurement Services, I Harmsworth, Greenmount Office Park, Harolds Cross, Dublin 6W * | Provision of procurement advice in relation to Long Island ferry service | â'¬605.00 | â'¬605.00 |
| Malachy Walsh & Partners / Raymond Burke Consulting, c/o Park House, 21 Denny Street, Tralee, Co Kerry* | To carry out a study of transport service requirements of a number of offshore islands. | â'¬86,946.97 excluding expenses | â'¬95,641.66 including expenses |
| Peter Coyne & Co. Chartered Accountants, Aengus House, The Docks , Galway * | Provision of professional accounting advice relating to Aran Islands air service contract. | â'¬1.089.00 | â'¬1,089.00 |
| Peter Coyne & Co. Chartered Accountants, Aengus House, The Docks , Galway * | Provision of professional accounting advice in relation to Aran Islands cargo contract. | â'¬399.00 | â'¬399.00 |
| Achilles, Procurement Services, I Harmsworth, Greenmount Office Park, Harolds Cross, Dublin 6W * | Provision of procurement advice in relation to the award of ferry study contract | â'¬5,445.00 | â'¬5,445.00 |
| Achilles, Procurement Services, I Harmsworth, Greenmount Office Park, Harolds Cross, Dublin 6W * | Provision of procurement advice in relation to linguistic study | â'¬1,815.00 | â'¬1,815.00 |
| Lovegrove & Associates | Advisor to the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board | â'¬79,860.00 | â'¬71,148.00 to date |
| N.U.I. Galway | Evaluation of National Drugs Awareness Campaign | â'¬72,600.00 | â'¬42,350.00 to date |
| 2004 | |||
| Environmental Resources Management* | Assess Cohesion Schemes and Integrated Target Plans for Social Inclusion from County/City Development Boards in 2004 | â'¬8,729.61 | â'¬17,459.22 Includes related work additional to that envisaged in original contract. |
| Law Reform Commission * | Specialist legal research, public consultation and recommendations concerning charitable trust law reform | â'¬35,000.00 | â'¬35,000.00 |
| Dermot V.Cahill* | Core information on Irish Sectoral Regulators (comparative research to inform work on charities regulator) | â'¬6,500.00 | â'¬6,500.00 |
| Mazars | Audit of Foras na Gaeilge | â'¬26,317.50 | â'¬17,407.25 Ongoing |
| A&L Goodbody* | Legal advice connected with a Community Development Programme tendering process Undertaken in 2004 | Not exceed €5,000 | â'¬4,077.70 |
| Deloitte & Touche* | Provision of professional accounting service in February/March 2004. | â'¬17,185.00 | â'¬13,096.00 |
| Deloitte & Touche* | Development of the Department's ICT Strategy | â'¬103,280 | â'¬103,280 |
| Farrell Grant Sparks* | Desktop Review | â'¬1,815.00 | â'¬1,815.00 |
| Sinead O'Connor* | Provision of Research and Development support to Comhairle na Tuaithe from 28/6/04 to 31/12/04. | â'¬35,000 | â'¬35,000 |
| Bluett Conran* | Review of Capital Appraisal Procedures in Department | â'¬6,050.00 | â'¬6,050.00 |
| Tipperary Institute | Provision of Network Services for LEADER+ Community Initiative | â'¬1,179,580 | â'¬643,783 paid to date. |
| Saltire Management Ltd, Victoria House, East Blackhall St., Greenhock, United Kingdom.* | Consultancy on aspects of ferry and air services for certain islands | â'¬77,924.00 | â'¬106,889.25 paid to date. The extra costs arose from a decision to extend the scope of the contract to provide for additional reporting, inspection and advisory requirements. Contract completed and final invoice awaited. |
| Peter Coyne & Co. Chartered Accountants, Aengus House, The Docks , Galway* | Examination of accounts for Aran Islands Cargo Tenders | â'¬605.00 | â'¬605.00 |
| Irish Productivity Centre (IPC)/IPC Associates , Rockenham House, Passage West, Cork | Job Analysis and Process Mapping skills to staff of the Department. | â'¬22,900 | â'¬10,450.00 Ongoing. Completion envisaged in early 2006 |
| Oonagh Breen* | External report on the public consultation about charities regulation | â'¬15,000.00 | â'¬15,000.00 |
| Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge | Linguistic study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht as a means of strengthening the linguistic development of the Gaeltacht as an Irish-speaking area and as a basis for a review of the official Gaeltacht areas | â'¬550,223.00 | â'¬321,494 paid to date. The study is not scheduled for completion until September 2006 |
| Goodbody Economic Consultants* | Expenditure Review of the Local Drugs Task Forces | â'¬79,618.00 | â'¬79,618.50 |
| P.A. Consulting* | Mid Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy | â'¬67,397.00 Plus vouched expenses | â'¬74,431.34 |
| Achilles Procurement Service* | Quality assessment of Mid Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy | â'¬2,117.50 | â'¬2,117.50 |
| Talbot Associates* | Review of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs | â'¬47,341.25 plus vouched expenses | â'¬47,877.52 |
| QE5* | Evaluation of Coolamber Residential Rehabilitation Programme | â'¬13,425.00 | â'¬13,425.00 |
| 2005 | |||
| Environmental Resources Management | Assess Cohesion Schemes, Integrated Target Plans and Volunteering Measures for Social Inclusion from County/City Development Boards in 2005. | â'¬30,250.00 | â'¬10,083.33 to date. |
| NIRSA (National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis), NUI, Maynooth. | Analysis of 2002 population census data | â'¬3,248.85 | Ongoing |
| Brendan Kearney and Associates * | Preparation of a brief background report to assist in ongoing work relating to updating the White Paper on Rural Development | â'¬6,050.00 | â'¬6,050.00 |
| Deloitte and Touche | Decentralisation Risk Exercise | The cost of the consultancy will be €41,454.60. | No payment made yet. Contract placed in September 2005. |
| Mary Higgins, Management Consultant * | Provision of an research on the development of support framework for philanthropy in Ireland | â'¬5,102.00 | â'¬5,102.00 |
| Indecon | Consultancy on the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity | â'¬94,234.00 | No payment to date |
| RSM Robson Rhodes* | Verification checks of once-off grants made under the 2004 programme of grants to locally based community and voluntary organisations | â'¬34,787.00 | Completed 2005.No payment made to date |
| RSM Robson Rhodes* | To revisit some of the groups for verification purposes | â'¬4,840 | Completed 2005.No payment made to date |
| A & L Goodbody Solicitors* | Review of Public Procurement Procedures in relation to certain projects | â'¬3,513.92 | â'¬3,513.92 |
| Fitzpatrick Associates in conjunction with Brendan Kearney Associates Ltd. | Mid-term evaluation of the LEADER+ Community Initiative. | â'¬63,812 | â'¬42,541 paid to date. |
| Sinead O'Connor* | Provision of Research and Development support to Comhairle na Tuaithe from 1/3/05 to 31/5/05. | â'¬17,500 | â'¬17,500 |
| Tom Healy, Chartered Consulting Engineer, Railway View, Clifden, Co Galway. | Supervision of the construction work on Inishboffin airstrip. | â'¬64,389.12 | No payment yet. |
| Malachy Walsh & Partners / Mc Clure Watters, c/o Park House, 21 Denny Street, Tralee, Co Kerry.* | To review a study conducted in 1999 in respect of the proposed cablecar link between Inishbiggle and Achill Island, Co Mayo. | â'¬21,489.60 excluding expenses and printing costs. | â'¬25,676.43 including expenses and printing costs. |
| Brendan Kearney & Associates* | To review the operation of the Rural Development Fund incorporating stand-alone evaluations of a number of projects supported by the Fund. | â'¬6,050 + travel and subsistence expenses at civil service rates | No payment made yet |
| Mr. Patrick Commins | Consultancy on support for micro-enterprises in rural areas | â'¬3,812 + travel and subsistence expenses at civil service rates | No payment made yet |
| Goodbody Economic Consultants | Evaluation of Pilot Cocaine Projects | â'¬45,012.00 | â'¬22,506.00 to date |
| Brendan Lynch Economic Consultant* | Evaluation of Local Drugs Task Forces Expenditure Review | â'¬1,300.00 | â'¬1,300.00 |
| Kate Ennals & Associates | Evaluation of the Community Research Grants Scheme | â'¬22,640.00 | â'¬10,000.00 to date |
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