Written answers
Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Value for Money Reviews
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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502. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the consultancy service providers engaged by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the costs associated with each (details supplied); the reason for each service engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43309/19]
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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503. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the cost of each exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43326/19]
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.
My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. The technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access from time to time to external professional expertise to assist in discharging its functions.
A breakdown of the Admin VII - Consultancy Services, Value for Money and Policy Reviewsubhead costs incurred by my Department in 2018 are shown in the following table. There were no value for money or policy reviews carried out in 2018.
| Supplier | Reason for Service Engagement | 2018 Cost € |
|---|---|---|
| Quadra | Advice on the implementation of a health and safety management system for the Department | 5,596 |
| NTMA | Financial and commercial advice and assistance | 152,213 |
| Audit Committee | Audit Committee - Fees to External Members for meeting attendance | 4,155 |
| ASM (B) Ltd | Internal Audit Services | 32,502 |
| Dept of Rural and Community Development | Department's contribution towards a shared consultancy with the Department of Rural and Community Development in relation to digital assets/strategies for Local Government | 57,403 |
| Analysys Mason Ltd | Provision of Technical Support | 4,570 |
| Indecon | Review of the policy underpinning the National Digital Research Centre | 12,779 |
| ESRI | Co-funding with the Commission for Communication Regulation for a three year “Programme of Research in Communications” (2016-2018) by the ESRI | 75,000 |
| Charles River Associates | Independent economic analysis to support the Department in relation to Judicial Review proceedings 2017/256 | 297,795 |
| M.CO | Review of the Better Energy Communities Scheme | 34,594 |
| William Fry | Legal advice provided on the position and future of the Energy Efficiency Fund | 12,229 |
| 2B Energy, Elimark AB & Dr. Keith R Bell | Provision of an Independent Study to Examine the Technical Feasibility and Cost of Undergrounding the North-South Interconnector | 36,334 |
| Spread Select Ltd | Study on the Levels of Compensation Provided to Land and Property Owners in Proximity to High-Voltage Transmission Lines | 23,763 |
| KPMG | Study and report on the wider costs and benefits of gas network extensions, including possible climate and decarbonisation aspects, as well as regional and rural development benefits | 208,878 |
| Reidy Brophy Limited | Provision of Services relating to the facilitation of an Oil Supply Disruption Exercise | 20,754 |
| Astrid Consulting | Consultancy services for the establishment of a methodology for assessment of financial indemnity/insurance of petroleum authorisation holders and the subsequent assessment of drilling applications | 23,327 |
| RPS Consulting Engineers | Environmental assessments of decommissioning applications | 55,138 |
| Arthur Cox | Legal advice in respect of Shell’s divestment of interest in Corrib gas field | 124,608 |
| PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes Limited | Financial Advice in respect of Shell’s divestment of interest from Corrib Gas Field | 30,135 |
| Botanical Environmental Consultants (BEC) | Provision of Consultancy Services in respect of assistance with statutory assessment of Environmental Statements and Natura Impact Statements and Exploration Drilling applications | 15,983 |
| Ramboll UK Ltd | Environmental expertise for monitoring of Corrib Gas pipeline Consent Conditions | 72,052 |
| Arthur Cox Solicitor | Legal advice in respect Judicial Review of Consent to Operate Corrib pipeline | 7,334 |
| Selgovia Ltd | Petroleum engineering consultancy | 104,513 |
| International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis | Peer review of analysis paper on national smoky coal ban | 5,412 |
In procuring these specialist services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that these services contribute to project delivery and informed, robust and evidence-based policy making.
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