Written answers
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Consultancy Contracts
8:00 pm
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 695: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the names of agencies which provide staff for his Department and for bodies and agencies under its aegis; the services they provide; the numbers of staff they provide; the cost of those services; the way this compares with direct employment of staff in equivalent roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36233/11]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has used a number of options for obtaining specialist expertise which is not available in-house. This includes the engagement of a small number of information communications technology contractors and some specialist financial expertise. A short-term pilot arrangement with Irish Rail is also in place. A member of my Department is seconded to Irish Rail and an engineer from Irish Rail is working in my Department. In addition, an accountant has been seconded in from the National Roads Authority. Two external receptionists and a relief telephonist have also been engaged.
The question as to whether requisite expertise can be provided from internal rather than external resources is reviewed on a regular basis. The details of the current arrangements are contained in the table.
| Agency Name | Number of staff | Service Provided | Cost (1/1/11 to date) |
| Vero Solutions | 1 | ICT - Database Administrator | €71,801 |
| IT Force | 3 | ICT - Network Support Administrators | €182,592 |
| Version 1 | 1 | ICT - Java Development | €140,053 |
| Spanish Point | 1 | ICT - Sharepoint Development | €118,892 |
| Hays | 1 | Accountancy | €141,108 |
| Aramark | 2 | Receptionist | €58,750 |
| NCBI (National Council for the Blind) | 1 | Relief Telephonist | €882.60 |
| National Roads Authority | 1 | Accountant (on secondment) | Recoupment of salary costs is yet to be agreed and will be effective from 1st January 2012 |
| Iarnród Éireann | 1 | Pilot Exchange | No cost |
The total cost of the ICT contractors above to date in 2011 is €513,338. If it is assumed that specially trained Higher Executive Officers could provide these services, direct employment of staff in equivalent roles would have cost €475,540. The total cost for external receptionists to date in 2011 is €58,750. The figure for two Services Officers to fulfil the same role for the same period is estimated at €42,281. The cost of external accountancy services to date in 2011 is €141,053. The cost of direct employment of a Professional Accountant, Grade 1 for a ten month period is estimated at €86,816.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the agencies is a matter for the agencies themselves. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the agencies concerned for their direct response. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my private office.
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