20 June 2006

Reducing costs of the Infrastructure Ministry

Efficiency and cost reduction of central public administration are two of the objectives that Italia dei Valori has for this legislature.

Within the ambit of my role as Minister of Infrastructure I have started to evaluate potential cost saving areas. My first decision has been to internalise the service of controlling public works. The previous minister had entrusted this activity to 8 external consultants, thus doubling up on competencies that were already present within the Ministry and demotivating internal personnel.

The cost of each consultant is 200,000 euro for the activity plus 250,000 euro for various costs plus 187,000 euro for expenses. The consultants make use of offices within the ministry and have a secretary.
Some of them had previously worked in the ministry and they had been placed off the payroll to continue the same activity with a much higher cost to the administration.

637.000 euro multiplied by 8 consultants produces a saving for the State of over 5,000,000 euro.

From 30 June, the activities that are today undertaken by the consultants will be handled by competent officials and the external collaboration will be stopped.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Economy