Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General in his 2006 annual report, she is confident that the ICT governance in the Health Service Executive is compliant with Department of Finance rules issued in September 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24076/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE has made significant progress in complying with the ICT governance requirements set out by the Department of Finance in September 2005. It has appointed a national Director of ICT to provide a central source of decision making in relation to ICT strategies, plans and projects. There is no longer delegation of ICT spending authority within the HSE. All ICT development and operational staff are now under the control of the ICT Director. Decisions about the engagement of ICT contractors and consultants are also matters for the Director.

A comprehensive ICT strategy for the HSE should be completed by the end of the year. When the strategy has been approved by my Department and the Department of Finance, it will enable the HSE to meet the standards contained in the Department of Finance 16/97 process. My Department will continue to work with the HSE and the Department of Finance to improve the governance arrangements applied to ICT within the HSE.