Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the budget available to his Department for IT expenditure in 2010 and 2011; the provisions within his Department for the purchasing of IT equipment; the efforts that are being undertaken to ensure value for money and cost reductions in this regard; if there are budgets and procedures in place for the purchasing of IT equipment for each State agency under his remit for 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23450/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The information technology purchasing policy of my Department and agencies under its remit is to ensure that all procurements comply with procurement law, provide value for money, are fit for purpose, and comply with all applicable standards. All ICT expenditure is tendered in accordance with Circulars 2/09, 10/10 and 2/11 to ensure best VFM. Additionally my Department and all agencies procure, where appropriate, from centrally-negotiated Public Service-wide framework contracts for a wide-range of IT and telecoms products and services.

The budgets available for each were:

Dept/Agency 2010 2011

€'000 €'000

Public Expenditure & Reform --- 626 1

Public Appointments Service 1,181 1,245

Commission for Public Service Appointments 55 34

Valuation Office 1,004 906

Office of the Ombudsman2 256 196

State Laboratory 234 225

Footnotes:

1. This figure covers IT expenditure for both the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform as IT is now provided on shared service basis between them.

2. The IT Unit within the Office of the Ombudsman also provides shared IT services for the Offices of the Information Commissioner, Commissioner for Environmental Information, the Standards in Public Office Commission, and the Commission for Public Service Appointments.