Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to deal with the IT and procurement issues raised by Deputy Sherlock.

I will begin with the programmes mentioned by Deputy Sherlock, SEUPB and PEACE. Of course, I am very much aware of the role played by Deputy Sherlock in his previous role negotiating the Fresh Start agreement and the further progress that was made in Northern Ireland. The short answer to his question is that if the UK votes to leave the EU, these programmes will be affected. There are two particular dimensions to these programmes that will be affected. As the Deputy is aware, the first is the fact that the EU provides most of the funding for them. Second, the requirement for State investment in these areas is front-loaded - the investment is at the start.

This is one of the many reasons we have campaigned for the British people to vote to remain in the EU. I recognise that it is their sovereign right. We have referendums here all the time, and I am conscious of how we feel when people visit our country, but programmes like this will have an effect. I do not want to quantify the effect because we have to see how the United Kingdom will vote on Thursday, and I will not get into specifying the figures in that respect because I do not want to be involved in the debate in any way beyond the Government’s involvement already. Funding streams such as this are predicated on countries being in the European Union.

In response to the questions about PeoplePoint, as of 31 May of this year, 38 bodies have moved to PeoplePoint, and it provides services for over 33,000 employees. Two final public service bodies are due to move this year. When that is in place there will be 34 bodies, at which point we anticipate-----