Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 650: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality 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. [23449/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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IT expenditure for the Department in 2010 was €18,868,523. This figure comprises expenditure for the following areas: 1. The Department itself and the bodies/offices/agencies

on its IT Shared Service (see full list below)

2. Irish Prison Service

3. Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service

4. Financial Shared Services

5. Equality divisions & agencies, until their transfer to the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The budget for 2011 is made up of expenditure to date, €9,825,546, and expenditure to year-end, projected at some €8,892,500. The figures include expenditure in relation to divisions and agencies, including the Equality divisions and agencies which transferred into the Department of Justice and Equality earlier this year.

The Department's IT Shared Service, operating since 2003, provides centralised IT services to approximately 2,000 users in the Department and 25 agencies nationally and internationally. This approach ensures that the Department achieves economies of scale for the provision of these services, whilst reducing administration costs. Contracts and expenditure are regularly reviewed, and suppliers engaged with, to ensure that products and services are delivered at the most cost-effective rates. All IT procurement, by the Department and its agencies, is undertaken in accordance with the procurement requirements imposed by legislation and Government Directives. By going regularly to the market, and by utilising the economies inherent in existing public sector contracts, the Department drives continuous increased efficiencies and cost savings in the services delivered. At present the Department has a series of wide ranging ICT procurement exercises underway and is confident that these will reduce its costs in the medium term - it is also engaged in the inter Departmental Cloud Computing group which it anticipates will produce substantial operational savings in the medium to long term.

A cross-Departmental and cross-agency ICT Governance Group, which has a remit in relation to the strategic overview and management of ICT developments, reviews all proposed IT expenditure, to ensure value for money is achieved.

Departments, Office and Agencies on IT Shared Service

Department of Justice and Equality

Anti Human Trafficking Unit

Casino Commission

Coroner's Service

COSC

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Criminal Law Codification

Equality Authority

Equality Tribunal

Financial Shared Services

Garda Inspectorate

INIS

Irish Film Classification Office

Irish Youth Justice Service

National Disability Authority

National Property Services Regulatory Authority

Office for Internet Safety (OIS)

Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration

Office of the Commissioner of Charitable Donations & Bequests

Office of the Data Protection Commissioner

Office of the Inspector of Prisons

Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner

Parole Board

Private Security Authority

Reception and Integration Agency

Refugee Appeals Tribunal

State Pathology

Victims of Crime