Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [23446/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The budget available to my Department for IT expenditure was €10,852,599 in 2010 and is €8,740,180 in 2011. IT equipment is purchased in line with national and EU procurement guidelines and regulations. My Department has a number of approaches to ensuring value for money and cost reductions:

The Department draws on the various framework agreements established by the Department of Finance for the supply of IT-related goods and services.

Where such frameworks are not available, the Department conducts regular procurements for appropriate goods and services to secure best value.

Procurement documents are drafted on the basis of purchasing goods and services at levels appropriate to meet the identified requirements of offices of my Department.

Procurement of goods is centralised across all offices, where appropriate, to achieve economies of scale where possible.

There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.