Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Taoiseach the amount paid in each calendar year since inception in respect of the e-Cabinet system, in tabular form; the initial outlay for the e-Cabinet system; the nature of the service provided; the person by whom it was provided; if there were tenders sought for each such contract and the successful company or person; when the e-Cabinet system will be reviewed; the approximate number of public sector staff who have access to the system; the number of Ministers who utilise the system; the anticipated future outlay for the e-Cabinet system, the number of Cabinet meetings at which the e-Cabinet system has been used by some or all Cabinet members; the number of meetings at which it has not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22993/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The eCabinet system is in operation across all Government Departments and Ministers' Offices and at Government meetings. Work on it began in 2002 and it was implemented on a phased basis between 2004 and 2007 at a cost of some €5m. A breakdown of the costs, including licensing, maintenance, etc. per year, to date in 2010, will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

The system electronically supports and enables the administrative processes associated with the preparation and conduct of Government business and the dissemination of Government decisions, and replaces the former paper-based system which involved manual management and distribution of Government memoranda and decisions. Users at all levels get information more quickly, have more time to reflect on issues and can more readily contribute to proposals under development. Ministers and senior officials have information about items as they are placed on the Cabinet agenda, with access to the memoranda immediately.

The main development partner for the project was the In.vision Research Corporation Inc. (which was bought over by Quark Systems Ltd. in 2008). In.vision were the proprietors of an XML toolset that was selected for drawdown use by the public service in a public tender competition run by the LGCSB (Local Government Computer Services Board) in consultation with CMOD in the Department of Finance, and the drawdown facility was availed of by my Department for the eCabinet project which is built using the selected toolset. A small number of additional service providers were also contracted to build the infrastructure and to provide security for the system, using open and restricted (where necessary for security reasons) tendering procedures. These included Fujitsu Services, Bic Systems (Ireland) Ltd, LAN Communications and Entropy.

The system is kept under review and hardware and software upgrades are being implemented during 2010.

There are over 6,000 registered users of the system, between Ministers, Ministers of State and civil servants, with different levels of access rights depending on their responsibilities. All Ministers make use of the eCabinet system and it is and has been available at all meetings held in the Council Chamber in Government Buildings, which account for the vast majority of Cabinet meetings (for cost and security reasons the system functionality is only available for Cabinet meetings at the Cabinet table in the Council Chamber).

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Taoiseach the costs associated with the issuing of payslips to staff including production, printing and delivery for 2007, 2008 and 2009 such as delivery costs, printing costs and so on, in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23143/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My Department outsourced its payroll administration to the Department of Finance from 2004 to January 2008. The costs associated with the issuing of payslips to staff of this Department by the Department of Finance during this period will be included in the Minister for Finance's answer to this question.

In February 2008, my Department outsourced its payroll administration to the Financial Shared Services Centre in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The costs associated with the issuing of payslips for staff in my Department since February 2008 are set out in the table. These costs cover stationery, labour, equipment maintenance and delivery. The Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform also provides an online payslip facility to staff of my Department and it is planned to phase out paper payslips later this year.