Written answers
Wednesday, 25 January 2006
Department of Defence
Consultancy Contracts
8:00 pm
Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 1418: To ask the Minister for Defence the funds spent by his Department since June 1997 on consultants, legal experts and external advice; the number of reports produced under such contracts and the number implemented to date by his Department; the cost of such advice in 2005 and the planned expenditure for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1541/06]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
| Year | Name | Purpose | Cost | Report status |
| â'¬ | ||||
| 1996/1998 | O'Shea Business Consultants | Provision of career change/outplacement support for members of Defence Forces availing of voluntary early retirement | 386,615 | Not Applicable |
| 1996/1998 | Staff Relations Services (Mr. D. Rochford) | Chairman Voluntary Early Retirement Board | 2,009 | Not Applicable |
| 1997 | Mary Murphy Associates | Communications advice | 3,133 | Completed |
| 1997/2000 | Aer Rianta | Assessment of planning application adjacent to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel | 14,655 | Not Applicable |
| 1998/1999 | Staff Relations Services (Mr. D. Rochford) | Review of Reserve Defence Forces | 37,470 | Published internally on 31 August 1999 and submitted to Minister. Implementation Plan drawn up and implementation ongoing |
| 1998 | Ernst & Young | Analysis and design of a Fishery Control System to enable the Naval Service to meet its obligations under new fishery regulations | 608,839 | Completed — no specific report produced |
| 1998 | BDO Simpson Xavier Consultants | Market and Feasibility Study for National Aviation Heritage Centre | 19,666 | Completed Report and published |
| 1999/2004 | Brady, Shipman, Martin | Preparation of an Integrated Area Action plan for Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, Cork | 128,902 | Completed and report published |
| 1999/2005 | Sir Frederick Snow & Partners Ltd | Review of policy in relation to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel | 21,938 | Report not published |
| 1999/2000 | Mr. L. Dunbar | Review of Medical Corps | 4,360 | Published internally in March 2002 and submitted to Minister |
| 1999/2000 | Anti-Bullying Centre Trinity College | To conduct an investigation into allegations of bullying | 6,599 | Completed |
| 2000 | Mr. Mike Ginn | To assist and advise with a tender competition for the supply of Medium Lift Helicopters for Search and Rescue | 121,682 | Completed — no specific report published |
| 2000/2001 | Exselan Computer Systems | E-Government Strategy Statement | 22,093 | Completed |
| 2000/2004 | Brian Meehan & Associates | Grounds of appeal on behalf of the Minister relating to aeronautical development planning & development control matters adjacent to Casement Aerodrome | 20,682 | Completed — no report published |
| 2001 | Intercontinental Aviation Consultants | Carry out an Air Operations Safety Audit of the Air Corps | 55,442 | Completed |
| 2001 | Deloitte & Touche | Study in relation to the introduction of the Management Information Framework in the Defence Forces | 127,925 | Completed |
| 2001 | Saville & Holdsworth Ltd. | Assist in the conduct of job evaluation for the Defence Forces | 44,268 | Completed |
| 2001/2002 | Dr. Eileen Doyle | (Chairperson) Report concerning the nature and extent of any harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the Defence Forces | 63,000 | Completed. Published in March 2002 and submitted to Minister. Report implemented |
| 2001/2002 | Gallagher & Kelly Public Relations | Public relations service | 32,048 | Completed |
| 2001 | Margaret Considine | Assist in selection of advertising agency | 4,920 | Completed |
| 2002 | Sweeney Communications | Public relations service | 12,235 | Completed |
| 2002/2004 | Dr. Eileen Doyle | Chairperson, Monitoring Group set up to give effect to recommendations of the Report concerning harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the Defence Forces | 161,259 | Monitoring Group Report published on 24 September 2004 and submitted to Minister |
| 2003 | Mr. Colm Dunne | Expenditure Review on Maintenance of Aircraft in the Air Corps | 3,220 | Completed — no specific report produced |
| 2003/2004 | Mr. Martin McCoy | Assist in the Department's preparations to seek ISO 9000 accreditation | 10,150 | Completed |
| 2003 | Deloitte & Touche | Assist with specifications and selection of Management Information Framework System | 26,740 | Completed |
| 2003 | Ray Byrnes B.L. | Legal Services | 1,800 | Advice completed and report received |
| 2004 | Connolly, Sellors & Geraghty | Legal Services | 4,598 | Advice completed and report received |
| 2004 | Goldsmith Fitzgerald Partnership | Climate Survey analysis in relation to the performance management and development system (PMDS) | 1,800 | Completed |
| 2005 | Occupational Health Consultants | Provision of information sessions for civilian employees in relation to asbestos | 35,869 | Completed |
| 2005 | Dr. Charles O'Malley | Medical Adviser for Civil Defence | 6,400 Set fee per annum | Ongoing (Term of 3 years from May 2005) |
| 2005 | Millward Brown IMS | Research into public information and awareness on emergency planning | 22,264 | Ongoing — reporting by 31 January 2006 |
Planned expenditure in 2006 is as follows:
| Year | Name | Purpose | Cost | Report status |
| â'¬ | ||||
| 2006 | Dr. Charles O'Malley | Medical Adviser for Civil Defence | 6,400 Set fee per annum | On-going (Term of 3 years from May 2005) |
| 2006 | Millward Brown IMS | Research into public information and awareness on emergency planning | 22,264 | On completion of report due by 31 January 2006 |
In addition, consultants with appropriate expertise are engaged by the Department as necessary to provide technical services in connection with building, engineering and equipment projects etc. and in connection with psychometric testing for Army, Naval Service and Air Corps cadetships and trainee technicians.
With regard to legal experts, the State's own legal costs are charged to the Vote of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and are not specifically identifiable within the overall expenditure on legal costs borne by that office. It should also be noted that the Department has never included the following projects as consultancies: Oracle EMEA Ltd. has an ongoing contract in respect of implementation services for installation of new financial and management information systems for the Department and the Defence Forces. The full value of the contract is €3.2 million, inclusive of VAT, and of this amount, €2 million has been paid to date, with the remainder to be paid in 2006 and payment of €2.6 million, to date, to Hewlett Packard in respect of a contract signed on 18 December 2002 between the Department of Defence and Hewlett Packard Ireland Limited for the supply and maintenance of shore and ship based components of a fisheries control project. The main objective of the project is to collect, manage and disseminate fisheries protection information to support all relevant stakeholders. The full value of the contract is €3.2 million. The contract will be completed this year.
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