Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the systems used for public procurement of computer systems are robust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Public procurement of computer systems operates within a policy defined by European and domestic procurement law. Up to date guidelines for public procurement, including information technology solutions, were issued to Government Departments and offices by my Department in 2004. I am satisfied that the procurement systems in place are robust and as a general rule operate in a satisfactory manner. They are kept underreview.

The specification, design and implementation of computer-IT systems can be quite complex and challenging. There are many examples of good implementations of such systems throughout the public service, for example, the Revenue on-line service and the motor tax on-line system etc. However, there are also, unfortunately, a small number of examples where projects have run into difficulties for a variety of reasons. Delays can occur because of a change in requirements or scope or because something arose that was not foreseen. Sometimes, unfortunately, expenditure overruns arise from poor planning and poor decision-making in an individual organisation.

My Department continually keeps this matter under review. Due to the increasing size and complexity of ICT projects now being undertaken in the Civil Service, it was felt that the delegation arrangements had to be strengthened, particularly for large ICT projects. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently decided that peer reviews should be immediately put in place for large ICT projects. It is intended that progress will be made before the end of 2005 in relation to having peer reviews carried out on some large scale projects. This will bring to bear the experiences of senior computer managers across the Civil Service to evaluate the viability of project proposals, to determine the best implementation method and to review progress at critical stages. Peer reviews will not override in any way the accountability arrangements in place within organisations. It is worth noting that forms of peer review are also being implemented in other administrations to deal with size and complexity issues in ICT.

The peer review process will particularly focus on: the preparation of good business cases, affordability, procurement, detailed planning, strong governance arrangements and on limiting the scope of a proposed project to the current ICT capacity of the sponsoring organisation. The Deputy will be aware of a recent Government decision which significantly strengthens controls in the area of project management and the peer review process will check that these new controls have been taken fully into account.