Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Transport the information technology purchasing requirements, for both hardware and software, in his Department for the second half of 2006; the requirements for which tender requests have been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26040/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The projected hardware and software requirements of my Department in the second half of 2006 are summarised as follows:

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Transport his Department's information technology purchasing policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26055/06]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Transport the percentage of information technology spend in his Department that went to Irish SMEs in each year from 2002 to date in 2006; the percentage for European Union and European Economic Area SMEs; if systems are in place in his Department's procurement procedures to give preference to SMEs, such as the weighting system in place in the Local Government Computer Services Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26070/06]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to support the development of the indigenous software industry through his Department's public procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26100/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 464 and 466 together.

IT Procurement in my Department is conducted in accordance with "Public Procurement Guidelines 2004" issued by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit of the Department of Finance which is available on that Department's website or at www.etenders.gov.ie.

The guidelines require procurement processes to be open, objective, transparent, and cost effective. The giving of preference to any class of provider would quite possibly be open to challenge. Consequently, my Department does not, unless it is directly relevant to the ability to provide a specific service or equipment, track the nationality or size of enterprise to whom contracts are awarded.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Transport the average size of information technology procurement contracts in his Department; the median size of such contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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For the 2006 calendar year the estimated average IT procurement contract cost is just under €30,000. The estimated median procurement contract cost is about €13,000. These figures relate to 37 actual or planned procurements, 6 of which are expected to exceed €75,000 in value. The maximum procurement contract awarded in 2006 is expected to be under €125,000.