Written answers
Tuesday, 4 December 2018
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Departmental Contracts Data
Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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685. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years March 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the cost of same; the company involved; and the title and publication date by report in tabular form. [50099/18]
Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The information requested is set out in the following table.
| Year Commissioned | Consultant/Author etc. | Name/Description of Report/Review/Study | Date or Expected Date of Publication | Amount Spent Since March 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ARUP Consulting Engineers | Study in respect of provision of fire detection and alarms systems in dwellings. | Not intended for publication. It is a technical report, to inform work in the Department. | €29,935 |
| 2011 | Barrow Archaeological Services | Archaeological reports on Met Éireann site at Valentia. | Not intended for publication as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. | €1,210 |
| 2011 | Building Research Establishment Ltd | Retrofitting Code of Practice. | Published March 2014. | (1)€21,190 |
| 2011 | Dr. Eoin O'Sullivan, Trinity College Dublin | Review of the Homeless Strategy 2008-2013. | Published November 2012. | €6,000 |
| 2011 | Housing & Sustainable Communities Ltd. | Toolkit for Local Authorities on regeneration. | Not intended for publication. This was a report intended to provide assistance to Local Authorities in drawing up proposals for the regeneration of their areas. | €12,300 |
| 2011 | Malachy Walsh & Partners | EIS Screening Report for site at Valentia. | Not intended for publication as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. | €6,336 |
| 2011 | Marine Institute | Marine Strategy Framework Directive (1) Initial Assessment; (2) Development of a Monitoring Programme; and (3) Development of a Programme of Measures necessary to achieve Good Environmental Status in Irish Marine Waters. | (1) Initial Assessment - the technical report was published on the Department's website in Q2 2013 and the summary report was published in Q4 2013. (2) Monitoring Programme – sent to the EU Commission in April 2015.(3) Drawing up of programme of Measures - completed and published July 2016. | (2)€2,857,481 |
| 2011 | Murtagh & Partners | Review of Dublin Region Homelessness Services and Funding in 2011. | Published October 2011. | €27,800 |
| 2011 | National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) | Audit reports for ISO9001:2008 in 2011 and 2012. | Not intended for publication. These reports are for internal use only as an input for ongoing development of a Divisional Quality Management System. | €6,699 |
| 2011 | Price Waterhouse Coopers | Independent assessment on establishment of National Water Utility. | Irish Water - Phase 1 report and appendices published January 2012. Implementation Strategy published December 2012. | €179,584 |
| 2011 | Pyrite Panel | Report of the Pyrite Panel - Independent report to provide options for the Minister to deal with the pyrite problem. | Published July 2012. | €22,719 |
| 2012 | AECOM | Cost optimal study for non-domestic buildings. | Published March 2013. | €53,517 |
| 2012 | DKM Economic Consultants | Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. | Published July 2013. | €39,690 |
| 2012 | Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) | Analysis of Property Tax Options - a report to the Interdepartmental Expert Group on Property Tax. | Published December 2012. | €60,280 |
| 2012 | Flynn Furney Consultants Ltd. | Environmental Management Services re: review of CEMP at Valentia Site (Method Statement). | Not intended for publication as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. | €3,167 |
| 2012 | Glas Ecology | Environment Management Plan (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). | Not intended for publication as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. | €4,920 |
| 2012 | Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency | Review of leasing model. | Not Intended for publication. Report for internal use only. | €1,937 |
| 2012 | Indecon | Feasibility study on a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. | Published November 2012. | (3)€42,706 |
| 2012 | Mr. Hendrik W van der Kamp | Independent Evaluation of the Planning Review Report 2012. | Published January 2013. | €12,096 |
| 2012 | Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC | Review of the management by the Department of an application by Wicklow County Council for loan approval in respect of the compulsory purchase of land at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 1. | Published March 2012. | €19,680 |
| 2012 | Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC | Review of the compulsory acquisition of land by Wicklow County Council at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 2. | Published April 2013. | €49,200 |
| 2012 | Munster Archaeology | Report on archaeological investigation/survey of Met Éireann site at Valentia. | Not intended for publication as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. | €47,289 |
| 2012 | Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy | Preparation of EIA Guidelines. | Published March 2013. | €7,200 |
| 2012 | Version 1 | Evaluation of ICT Disaster Recovery configuration and capability. | Internal Management Report. Not intended for publication. | €9,363 |
| 2013 | Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) | Affordability aspects of the provision of water services in Ireland and subsequent analysis. | Published in May 2014 as Appendix 2 and Appendix 5 of the "Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Affordability Measures". | €57,655 |
| 2013 | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Article 29(2) Report on Progress on Implementation of the EC (Good Agriculture Practices for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010. | Published April 2014. | Nil |
| 2013 | Garrett Fennell Solicitor | Independent Review of the registration arrangements for Architects under the Building Control Act 2007. | Published on the Department's website. | Nil (report produced on a pro-bono basis) |
| 2013 | Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency | Review of CALF assessment process. | Not Intended for publication. Report for internal use only. | €11,675 |
| 2013 | Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency | Business Process Design of the Housing Assistance Payment. | Not Intended for publication. Report for internal use only. | €54,938 |
| 2013 | Indecon | Assessment of Potential Merits of New Initiative re Purchase of Local Authority Houses by Existing Tenants. | This report is available on request from the Department. | Nil (report produced on a pro-bono basis) |
| 2013 | KW Research & Associates | NTACC Research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation. | Published on the Department's website April 2014. | €11,938 |
| 2013 | RPS Group | Public consultation process on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and producing a report. | Published November 2013. | €9,000 |
| 2014 | Glas Ecology | Environment Management follow up Report (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). | Not intended for publication as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. | €1,599 |
| 2014 | MacCabe, Durney Barnes | Independent Planning Review. | Published December 2015. | €94,521 |
| 2014 | Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy | Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Westmeath. | Published May 2014. | €5,000 |
| 2014 | Patricia ThorntonTom Philips Associates | Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Limerick. | Published August 2014. | €4,151 |
| 2015 | AECOM | Additional cost optimal calculations for domestic and non-domestic buildings. | Published February 2015 | €33,683 |
| 2015 | Behaviour & Attitudes Ltd. | Market Survey to determine weather forecast consumption behaviour of the Irish public. | Not intended for publication. Report for internal purposes, primarily to inform strategic business decisions. | €19,865 |
| 2015 | Deloitte | Business Case Review for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). | Not intended for publication. Undertaken as part of technical work to update financial modelling related to the preparation of the original business case. | €28,939 |
| 2015 | Dr. Dagmar Stengel | Best practice in relation to the sustainable exploitation and management of intertidal seaweed resources. | Not intended for publication. Informative research sought to address a gap in knowledge at the time. | €14,391 |
| 2015 | Independent Review Group | An Bord Pleanala - Organisational Review. | Published March 2016. | €41,142 |
| 2015 | IT Executive Focus | Review of the Structure and Delivery Model of the ICT Services for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. | Internal Management Report. Not intended for publication. | €55,289 |
| 2015 | MartinPlan Consulting | To consider the implications of the C-50 judgment in the context of waste water discharge licensing and to make any necessary recommendations. | Not expected to be published. Report forms part of an ongoing deliberative process. | €1,750 |
| 2015 | Mazars Consulting | Independent Review of Homeless Services (2015). | Published on the Department's website January 2016. | €27,075 |
| 2015 | Rory Mulcahy, Senior Counsel | Review Report in relation to Certain Planning Matters in respect of Donegal County Council. | Issue of publication is being considered | €55,350 |
| 2015 | School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin | Review of CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) in fire service. | Not intended for publication. It is a technical report, to inform work in the Department. | Nil |
| 2015 | Steering Group on Fire Safety Review | Review of Fire Safety arrangements in multi-unit developments where concerns arise regarding non-compliance with statutory requirements. | Published August 2017. | (4)€35,597 |
| 2016 | Bruce McCormack | Independent Review of Draft S31 Direction in Westmeath. | Published in August 2016 | €1,970 |
| 2016 | Des Johnson | Independent Review of Draft S31 Direction in Louth. | Published February 2016 | €3,000 |
| 2016 | Des Johnson | Independent Review of Draft S31 Direction in Kildare. | Published in June 2016. | €3,000 |
| 2016 | Economic & Social Research Institute | Research Programme on Economic and Demographic Modelling. | Published in May 2018. | €150,000 |
| 2016 | Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks | Report on the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. | Published June 2017. | (5)€10,194 |
| 2016 | Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency | Review by the Housing Agency of the scheme of loans & grants for purchase of caravans by Travellers. | Not Intended for publication. Report for internal use only. | Nil |
| 2016 | Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency/PACEC | Independent Review of funding for Traveller-specific Accommodation since 2000 in the context of the delivery and implementation of Local Authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes. | Published on the Department's website in Q3 2017. | €21,491 |
| 2016 | Invas Biosecurity | Production of Program of measures on Invasive Alien Plant Species for the Water Framework Directive. | Not published separately, forms part of the draft River Basin Management Plan published in February 2017. | €9,225 |
| 2016 | Mr. Hendrik W van der Kamp | Independent Review of Draft S31 Direction in Donegal. | Published in August 2016. | €2,688 |
| 2016 | RPS Group | Strategic Environmental Assessment, Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment reports for National Planning Framework documents. | Published in May 2018. | €122,377 |
| 2016 | RPS Group | Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the draft River Basin Management Plans. | Published in April 2018. | €240,503 |
| 2017 | A&L Goodbody Solicitors Ltd. | Report on Water Abstractions. | Not intended for publication as report forms part of an ongoing deliberative process. | €23,985 |
| 2017 | AECOM | Development of Modelling and Cost Data Services for Part L- Dwellings. | Published in April 2018 | €78,973 |
| 2017 | ASM Chartered Accountants | Review of the Department ICT Backup systems | Internal Management Report. Not intended for publication. | €18,400 |
| 2017 | CAAS Ltd | Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) and Flood Risk Appraisal on the draft revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006. | Expected to be published in Q1 2019. | €31,840 |
| 2017 | Capita | Business Process Mapping and recommendations for Business Process Improvements. | Not Intended for publication. Report for internal use only. | €117,033 |
| 2017 | Economic and Social Research Institute | Joint Research Programme on Housing Economics between the Department and the Economic and Social Research Institute. | The consultancy is a 3 year research collaboration agreement which will involve the publication of multiple research papers. The first paper emanating from the research agreement was published in November 2017. | €298,472 |
| 2017 | Ipsos MRBI | Behavioural research on the tenure choices of renters. | Research papers based on analysis of dataset will be published by Department in due course. | (6) €72,416 |
| 2017 | KOSI Ltd | Efficacy and Risk Review of the Department's Cyber and IT Security Systems and Computer Rooms. | Internal Management Report. Not intended for publication. | €26,000 |
| 2017 | Limerick Institute of Technology | Carrying out of Research and the Development of a Report and Recommendations on Guidance to Planning Authorities Regarding Enterprise Development in Rural areas. | Expected to be published in Q4 2019. | Nil |
| 2017 | O’Brien Learning | The Introduction of a Formal Mentoring Programme within an Organisation | Published in October 2017. | €2,622 |
| 2017 | Optimize Consultants | Study to identify and assess relevant instruments and incentives to reduce the use of single-use and other items, which impact the marine environment as marine litter. | Published in January 2018. | €24,538 |
| 2017 | RPS Group | Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment for Nitrates Action Programme. | Published in March 2018. | €107,736 |
| 2018 | Aecom | Develop cost optimal calculations and gap analysis for buildings in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2010/31 EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings. | Ongoing | €78,130 |
| 2018 | Behaviour and Attitudes Ltd. | Undertake a market survey as part of a Cross Departmental Project examining the housing circumstances and attitudes of mature homeowners | Ongoing | €50,000 |
| 2018 | Concept to Print | Graphic Design for Bringing back Homes guidance document | Ongoing | €2,854 |
| 2018 | Des Johnson | Independent review of draft Arklow & Environs Local Area Plan 2018-2024 | Published in May 2018 | €3,088 |
| 2018 | Galway Mayo Institute of Technology | Production of a background document in relation to proposed microbeads legislation | Published in November 2018 | €4,305 |
| 2018 | Irwin Carr | Carry out a peer review of the noise material for the Wind Energy Development Guidelines | Not intended for publication – For internal use. | €4,613 |
| 2018 | Mott MacDonald Ireland Ltd. | Provision of services for the preparation of a Climate Adaptation Sectoral Plan in respect of Water Quality and Water Services Infrastructure | Expected to be published in Q4 2019 | Nil |
| 2018 | RPS Group | Prepare a Water Life Integrated Project Proposal | Not intended for publication | €77,769 |
| 2018 | RPS Group | Prepare a guidance document for Planning Authorities on the River Basin Management Plan 2018 – 2021 | Expected to be published in Q4 2019 | €112,422 |
| 2018 | Ryan Hanley Consulting Engineers | Commissioning of study on use of best available techniques and best Environmental practice to develop sustainable and cost effective solutions to reducing and preventing sewage and storm water related waste entering the marine environment | Awaiting final report | €19,948 |
| 2018 | Tom Dwyer | Copy Editing – Bringing Back Homes | Ongoing | €675 |
(1)The contract was in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Total cost of the study is €169,302 (inclusive of VAT). My Department's contribution was €21,190 (inclusive of VAT) with the balance met by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (i.e. €148,112 inclusive of VAT).
(2)The Initial Assessment report, monitoring programme and programme of measures each arise from a broader process connected with Ireland’s obligation to implement the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The work primarily consists of a determination of the status of Ireland’s marine waters, the measures necessary to achieve, or maintain, the required Good Environmental Status by 2020 and a programme to monitor this. The preparation of a draft Initial Assessment (under Art. 8 of the MSFD) including proposals for Good Environmental Status (Art. 9) and for draft Environmental Targets (Art.10) is underpinned by a suite of monitoring measures to measure the maritime environment against these targets (Art. 11). Where human activities are preventing these targets from being met, a Programme of Measures to mitigate the effect of these activities, or halt them as appropriate (Art.13) has been finalised.
(3)This report was co-funded by my Department and the Private Residential Tenancies Board. The cost to my Department of €42,706 represents 50% of the total cost.
(4)The contracting authority for this report was Kildare County Council and the costs were recouped by my Department.
(5)The four members of the panel provided their services on a pro-bono basis. The costs associated with the preparation of the report related to travel and subsistence (at Civil Service rates).
(6)This report is being co-funded by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
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