Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Large amounts of that expenditure are going into projects to improve the quality of service for the public at every level. That is not to take away from the efforts of those engaged in charitable fundraising acts, which have always happened in this country.

The PPARS system has been implemented in six Health Service Executive areas so I am surprised that Deputy Kenny is asking us to stop it. To unravel it in those areas would waste money that is effectively working. It is supporting the human resource records for 70,000 staff on the payroll and a large amount of other projects in those Health Service Executive areas. As I said last year, the further roll-out of the scheme, other than in the six areas where it is working, is on hold. It currently remains on hold and no further work has taken place in those areas. The review carried out by the HSE since October 2005 concluded, first, that no long-term strategy should be adopted until the use of the system in existing sites is maximised and fully operational. That is what they are concentrating on. Second, the review concluded that the requirements of the new unified HSE structure should be clarified and that the PPARS project's capacity to fulfil these requirements should be verified.

Deputy Kenny will recall that the HSE did not exist when the PPARS project began. When the HSE started, therefore, one had to take account of the new structure, which is only in its second year. That work will take place over the next eight to nine months, led by the HSE's national director of services. That person is responsible for co-ordinating the activity and is implementing the project.

Sanction is pending for a capital cost of €2.844 million sought by the HSE for this year. No sanction has yet been agreed by the Department so no allocation has been sanctioned this year. Deputy Kenny mentioned a figure of €21 million but the overall cost estimate for the project in 2006 is €4.31 million, which is a recurring cost for the system as it is operating, including software, system-hosting and payroll support. There is a figure of €15.18 million for HSE staff and technical consultancy staff. These costs will continue to reduce as the system beds in. Unfortunately, we have not found a way of bringing in a new system that does not involve staff, and they must be paid. There is also a once-off cost of €1.55 million for hardware and consultancy.

Like all large organisations, the HSE requires comprehensive human resource support and payroll systems. Like other sectors, the HSE could not cover the entire country without using modern technological systems. There have been difficulties with the PPARS system, as there have been with IT systems all over the world. However, it is unreasonable for Deputy Kenny to ask the HSE not to continue to bed down the new system.

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