Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 1063: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [23453/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The budget approved by the Department of Finance for ICT expenditure in my Department for 2010 was €17.4 million. The actual ICT expenditure for 2010 was €10.3 million. The proposed ICT budget in my Department for 2011 is €9.9 million.

All purchases of ICT equipment, regardless of value, are subject to national guidelines and European procurement regulations. There is a continuous effort by my Department to identify and implement savings in the purchasing of ICT equipment. Where appropriate, this Department uses the ICT framework agreements developed by the Department of Finance for the procurement of common ICT equipment and systems. The pooling of ICT procurement will help ensure competitive responses from suppliers and achieve efficiencies.

The State agencies under the remit of my Department have been forwarded a copy of your enquiry relating to their ICT budgets for 2010 and 2011. They have been requested to respond to you directly. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.