John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost of the management information system for the institutes of technology; the total cost of the consultancy involved in this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27534/05]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the management information system for institutes of technology has been completed; the cost of the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27535/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 95 together.

Installation of the management information system for the 14 institutes of technology and the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute has been completed.

The MIS system comprises four integrated elements — a student registration system, a financial system, a payroll-human resource system and a library system. The system tracks all student records including registration, courses, link modules and examination performance. The financial system provides for individual budget responsibility within the institutes and it produces annual accounts. The payroll-human resource system links with the student system to facilitate time-tabling. The library system tracks all movements of materials and also facilitates on-line access to journals and articles by students and staff.

The project involved some 59 installations of hardware and software across the institutions. By the end of 2004, 57 of the 59 installations had been completed and the remaining two were completed this year. The cost of the project was €44.8 million.

I understand the MIS has proved to be a critical and decisive element in the modernisation and transformation of the management and operation of the institutes of technology. It has produced major benefits for students.

The project was implemented by a consortium of the institutes with the lead role on the day to day management undertaken by the Dublin Institute of Technology. The detailed information on the consultancy elements of the cost is being compiled and I will forward the information to the Deputies.