Question NW2524 to the Minister of Transport
31 August 2017 - NW2524
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(a)(i) Why has there been under expenditure with regard to the Rail Safety Strategy (ii) what has his department done to change this and (iii) how is this being monitored and (b)(i) why has there been (aa) deliverables, (bb) timelines, (cc) timeframes and (dd) deadlines that were not met and (ii) what is being done to change the situation in each case?
Reply:
(a)(i) The Department has appointed a service provider to assist with the development of the National Railway Safety Strategy. Payments of invoices are aligned to project deliverables/milestones. The Department only process payment once it is satisfied with the deliverables and any delay in finalising the deliverables subsequently leads to under expenditure for that period.
(ii) The project team had regular engagements with the service provider in order to fast-track the deliverables
(iii) This is monitored through constant engagement, progress reports and regular follow ups with the service provider.
(b)(i) (aa))bb)(cc)(dd) The period which was initially set out for stakeholder consultation proved to be insufficient and this affected delivery period that has subsequently affected the timelines, timeframes and deadlines.
(ii) The timelines, timeframes and deadlines are interrelated and in addressing them the Department continuously work closely with the service provider to ensure that the missed time-frames/timelines/deadlines are corrected.
NW2781E