Written answers
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Ministerial Travel
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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425. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by his Department on private travel for him and-or his private office on legal fees, consultancy fees and hotel accommodation during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30065/15]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that Private Office staff encompasses my Private Secretary, Special Advisers, Personal Assistant, Personal Secretary and Civilian Drivers. Expenditure on travel and hotel accommodation is in respect of official business, and is broken down as follows:
Expenditure on Flights – For 12 Month Period Ending 30 June 2015
| Month | Flights | Persons Travelling | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2014 | 3 Return Flights: Dublin - Brussels | Minister Reilly Personal Assistant Private Secretary | €376.43 €376.43 €399.89 |
| Total Cost€1,605.71 |
Expenditure on Hotel Accommodation - For 12 Month Period Ending 30 June 2015
| Month | Stay | Persons Staying | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2014 | 1 Night Brussels | Minister Reilly Personal Assistant Private Secretary | €166.32 €166.32 €173.47 |
| March 2015 | Dubai India [Cost of Flights involved paid by Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade] | Minister Reilly Personal Assistant Minister Reilly & Personal Assistant | €182.43 €182.43 €120.40 |
| Total Cost€991.37 |
In relation to legal fees, my Department paid the following fees during the twelve month period to 30 June 2015.
| Payee | Amount Paid | Date paid | Service Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Claims Agency | €347.34 | July 2014 | Costs associated with claims |
| State Claims Agency | €12,197.05 | August 2014 | Costs associated with claims |
| Connolly Finan Fleming Solicitors | €2,152.50 | August 2014 | Legal costs |
| State Claims Agency | €224.98 | January 2015 | Costs associated with claims |
| KOD Lyons | €26,338.92 | February 2015 | Settlement costs |
| State Claims Agency | €723.00 | March 2015 | Costs associated with claims |
It is the policy of my Department to minimise legal fees to the greatest extent possible and to engage external law firms only as the need arises and where the required professional expertise is not available in-house or through another State body.
In relation to consultancy services engaged by my Department during the twelve month period to 30 June 2015, expenditure is as follows:
| Name of Consultant | Amount Paid | Date paid | Service Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capita Business Services Ltd | €8,200 | July 2014 | Internal Audit Report Community Childcare Subvention/Childcare Education and Training Supports Programmes |
| Axis Consulting Engineers | €4,305 | July 2014 | Mechanical & Electrical specifications for capital works |
| Bramell Lane Ltd. | €29,151 | July 2014 | Policy analysis and development on remission of sentence |
| Eamon Doyle Associate Consulting Engineers | €1,445 | July 2014 | Structural specifications for capital works |
| Lisney Chartered Surveyors | €2,152 | August 2014 | Land Valuation Report |
| Irish Child and Family Institute Ltd. | €16,605 | September 2014 | Analysis and report of policy practices |
| Prof. Trevor Spratt | €1,476 | October 2014 | Review of proposed Policy Statement on Parenting and Family Support |
| BFK Brand Ltd | €16,390.28 | December 2014 | Design of the branding of Better Start, the National Early Years Quality Support Service |
| Dr. Geoffrey Shannon | €24,513.90 | December 2014 | Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection |
| Conor Feeney | €1,230 | December 2014 | Drafting advice for the Registration and Care and Welfare Regulations relating to Special Care |
| Peter Smyth Management Consultancy Limited | €10,332 | December 2014 | The provision of Process Audit and Associated Procurement Advice Services to assist in the tendering and commissioning process for Phase 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland (Growing Up in Ireland) |
| Dr. Satya Brink (Canada) | €20,237.16 | December 2014 | International expertise provided to the Growing Up in Ireland Steering Group and Project Team. |
| Professor Ann Sanson (Australia) | €9,616.21 | December 2014 | International expertise provided to the Growing Up in Ireland Steering Group and Project Team |
| Capita Business Services Ltd | €16,858 | January 2015 | Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform |
| Prof. Nick Frost | €1,200 | January 2015 | Review of proposed Policy Statement on Parenting and Family Support |
| JJ Campbell and Associates | €2,418 | January 2015 | Engineering specifications for capital works |
| Carmel Corrigan | €6,300 | February 2015 | Report on Ireland’s Implementation of EU Youth Strategy |
| The Change Exploratory Ltd | €1,600 | February 2015 | Report on meeting of Advisory Council ‘Becoming an Active Player’ |
| Eustace Patterson Ltd. | €1,476 | February 2015 | Preparation of synthesis document for the Advisory Council |
| Sandra Roe | €6,000 | April 2015 | Report of the involvement of children and young people in the recruitment of the Ombudsman for Children |
| Capita Business Services | €12,623 | June 2015 | Internal Audit Report National Children Detention Facility |
| Capita Business Services | €15,675 | June 2015 | Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform |
All contracts entered into by my Department must conform to the relevant laws and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on Public Procurement. It is the policy of my Department to minimise to the greatest extent possible the use of external consultancy and to ensure that where it is necessary to engage an external consultant, my Department achieves maximum value for money. In order to deliver key commitments in relation to children and young people and to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people, it is at times necessary to commission reports and utilise expertise from a range of expert individuals and bodies.
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