Written answers
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Departmental Expenditure
8:00 pm
Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the five highest value contracts entered into or authorised by his Department in 2008 for capital spending; the five highest value contracts entered into or authorised for current spending; the companies or bodies awarded the contracts; the value of the contracts; and the nature of the work. [6398/09]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables:
| Table A: five highest-value contracts (current expenditure) awarded in 2008. | ||
| Contract /Nature of Work | Party awarded Contract | Estimated value (full duration of contract) |
| Technical support and maintenance of the Automated Passport System | BearingPoint Ireland Limited | €5.38 million (excluding VAT) over a maximum duration of 3 years. |
| On-site technical resources for the Department's ICT Helpdesk services | BT Communications Ireland Limited | €5.022 million (excluding VAT) over a maximum duration of 4 years. |
| Supply of Passport Application Forms | Ebrook Limited, trading as DC Kavanagh | €1.47 million (excluding VAT). This figure represents the value of the maximum volume over two years as provided for in the contract. The actual outturn may be less. |
| ICT Security analysis and advisory services. These services are required to help ensure the security, integrity of the Department's ICT systems and in particular the security of data contained in those systems. | Bianconi Research Limited, trading as RITS Information Security. | €480,000 (excluding VAT). This is the current estimated value of services that may be drawn down over the maximum four-year duration of the contract. |
| Evaluation of the International Partnership for Microbicides. | FSG Special Impact Advisors | €342,400 (including VAT) |
| Table B: five highest-value contracts (capital expenditure) awarded in 2008 | ||
| Contract /Nature of Work | Party awarded Contract | Estimated value (full duration of contract) |
| Major refurbishment of official premises, Ottawa. | Lundy Construction Ltd. | Work is ongoing and the estimated overall cost of this project is €4 million, including VAT. |
| Major refurbishment of Chancery premises, The Hague. | Systobouw B.V. | Work is ongoing and the estimated overall cost of the refurbishment works is €2 million, including VAT. |
| Purchase of official premises, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. | Veronique Kritzinger | Cost was €1.3 million |
| Major refurbishment of official residence, The Hague | Van Hoogevest | Cost was €960,000 (including VAT) |
| Development of computerised Consular Case Management and Crisis Management System to enhance delivery of consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad, particularly in crisis/natural disaster situations | WorldReach Software Corporation | Work is nearing completion and the value of the contract is €405,128 (excluding VAT). |
It should be noted that the capital allocation for my Department, all of which is administrative capital, was reduced from €20.647m in 2008 to €13.944m in 2009, a reduction of some 32%. As part of the current round of savings, this allocation will now be reduced a further €878,000.
The refurbishments of the State-owned properties referred to in the table constitute an investment for the future. In relation to works in the Hague, the investment will allow my Department sell the existing Chancery premises, with the proceeds returning to the Exchequer.
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