THE GULLLIVER tourist information and booking service cost Bord Failte £641,000 in 1995 compared to a projected "worst case" deficit of £445,000, according to a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Purcell.
Bord Failte owns 60 per cent of Gulliver, and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board owns 40 per cent. They are now trying to find a private investor.
Mr Matt McNulty said it was "not unduly unhelpful" that a report on the teething pains of Gulliver should be highlighted at this time.
Since they announced their intention to privatise the booking system, Mr McNulty said, they had approaches from about 30 companies, Irish and international. Total expenditure for 1990-1995 was £10.2 million, according to Mr Purcell's report - one of a series of value for money examinations which his office is carrying out in the public sector. After membership and transaction fees of £1.6 million, the estimated net cost to the end of 1995 was £8.6 million.
The report says a major computer firm involved in the design of Gulliver's systems has received £4.6 million (including VAT) up to the end of 1995. The report does not name the firm, but it is believed to be Digital.
Mr Purcell concludes that:
the system in place has not provided the planned service;
the system is not being used extensively by the tourist industry;
the cost of developing and running the system, which delivers only part of the planned service, is greater than had been estimated;
management of the project has been deficient in certain respects;
experience to date, plus the demanding tasks that remain to be carried out, combine to cast some doubts as to whether the cost and output targets set for completion of the project can be met.
Mr McNulty defended the Gulliver project, and was satisfied that the partners had the most advanced system.