Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [23452/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is acutely aware of the need to obtain value for money at all times and is fully committed to effective and efficient resource allocation and service provision. There is a continuing focus on achieving more efficiencies in IT spend and contracts coming up for renewal are reviewed with a view to consolidation wherever possible. Centrally negotiated framework agreements are also utilised wherever possible.

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only agency under the aegis of my Department. NESDO receive a grant-in-aid allocation from my Department. They provided for €10,000 from their budget in 2010 and €12,870 from their budget in 2011 for the purchasing of IT equipment.

Procurement of IT equipment by my Department and by NESDO is carried out under procedures recommended by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit in the Department of Finance which is responsible for procurement policy, national procurement guidelines and the application of EU directives.

These procedures are designed to ensure that appropriate competitive processes are in place to select the providers of goods and services which represent best value to the Department, taking account of a number of important criteria including cost and suitability for purpose.