Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 706: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the information technology purchasing requirements, for both hardware and software, in her Department for the second half of 2006; the requirements for which tender requests have been issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26044/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department anticipates that it will have expenditure in the region of €900,000 on information technology hardware and software in the second half of 2006. Tender requests have been issued or will be issued in respect of all of this expenditure.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 707: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her Department's information technology purchasing policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26059/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department undertakes procurements for information technology goods and services in accordance with public procurement guidelines.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 708: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of information technology spend in her 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 her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [26074/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are no systems in place in my Department's procurement procedures to give preference to SMEs and my Department does not record the spend that went to Irish SMEs. The information requested by the Deputy is not therefore readily available.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 709: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average size of information technology procurement contracts in her Department; the median size of such contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26089/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The average size of information technology procurement contracts in my Department for the period from 1/1/2005 to date in 2006 has been approximately €190,000. The median size was €84,000.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 710: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she is taking to support the development of the indigenous software industry through her Department's public procurement process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26104/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not take any special steps to support the development of the indigenous software industry through the public procurement process.