Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Purchasing decisions on individual software packages are taken on the basis of a wide range of factors including fit with the needs of the Department and its existing systems, availability of adequate support for critical IT systems, fit with my Department's support skills, up front cost, and total cost of ownership taking account of the foregoing factors. Because of the complexity of these issues, it is not always possible to replace proprietary software with open source alternatives and it is not always clear what savings, if any, will arise from the use of such software. Following competitive procurement procedures, purchasing decisions in relation to both software and consumables are made on foot of taking all such relevant factors into account.

Therefore, my Department uses open source software and generic consumables where they are evaluated as best meeting the Department's requirements. As such, my Department does not track savings made through the use of open source software packages or generic consumables. Costs are kept to a minimum through the use of this competitive tendering process rather than through specifying any particular brand of product.