Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff in his Department that are provided with a blackberry device or similar mobile e-mail equipment. [34221/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are 89 staff in my Department who are provided with a BlackBerry device. A further 88 laptops have been assigned to staff which provide them with remote access to Departmental systems, including e-mail.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of databases used by his Department; and the number of these that are wholly and partly operated by external organisations or individuals and operated solely within his Department. [34236/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are over 200 electronic databases in use throughout my Department. They support a variety of functions which range from small and uncomplicated databases (e.g. internal telephone directory) to large and complex corporate data repositories that support high volume processing (e.g. Patents Office Administration System).

About ten electronic databases contain personal client information such as PPS numbers, date-of-birth, names addresses, etc. With the exception of one database which is operated on our behalf by the Centre for Management and Organisation Development (CMOD) within the Department of Finance, none of these databases are wholly or even partly operated by external organisations or individuals. Instead, all are hosted and operated solely within the secure confines of this Department. In terms of security, it is the Department's policy that such databases continue to be managed internally unless an externally managed service can match or even surpass the Department's security controls.

In common with many organisations, my Department's IT Unit uses highly reputable 3rd party contractors to provide specialist, technical support services. From time to time it is necessary to provide access to these 3rd party contractors in order for them to carry out technical repairs or modifications to databases, but such access is given in a controlled manner and in line with agreed procedures and restrictions.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of information technology projects undertaken by or for his Department since 2004 that have been delivered over budget, after their original deadline, on budget, under budget, on their original deadline and ahead of their original deadline; and if he will present the information in tabular readable form. [34251/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Department of Finance's circular 16/97, my Department is obliged to report to the IT Vote Control Section of the Department of Finance on all significant ICT Projects it undertakes. This reporting requirement includes the provision of information regarding the projected cost, timescale and identifiable benefits to be achieved as a result of the implementation of any such project. Also, to ensure proper governance, control and prioritisation, where the anticipated budget for any ICT project exceeds €25,000, a formal Project Proposal must be put before my own Department's ICT Steering Group for approval. According to my Department's records, the details of such projects undertaken in my Department since 1st January 2004, are set out in the table below.