Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 487: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the budget available to his Department for IT expenditure in 2010 and 2011; the provisions within his Department for the purchasing of IT equipment; the efforts that are being undertaken to ensure value for money and cost reductions in this regard; if there are budgets and procedures in place for the purchasing of IT equipment for each State agency under his remit for 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The budget available to my Department for IT expenditure in 2010 and 2011 is outlined in the following table:

My Department ensures that all public procurement procedures as outlined by the Department of Finance are adhered to during the procurement process. As part of these processes every effort is being undertaken to ensure value for money and achieve cost reductions.

Notably, my Department, earlier this year, as part of the Croke Park Agreement has implemented an agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to receive a service from that Department for the maintenance of IT helpdesk services and network infrastructure. This arrangement, which is the first shared service to apply to a full government department, will provide long-term savings on licensing and maintenance costs and is likely to be a model for future IT services for smaller Government Departments.

The purchase of IT equipment for Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. In addition each Exchequer funded Agency makes annual returns to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on all ICT expenditure.