Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of computer servers that are leased by his Department and each State agency under the aegis of his Department; the amount of capacity on each server; the cost of maintaining these servers and the steps being taken to reduce this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35514/11]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of computer servers that are owned by his Department and each State agency under his aegis; the amount of capacity on each server; the cost of maintaining these servers; the steps being taken to reduce this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35530/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.

My Department does not lease any computer servers. The 284 computer servers required to support the Department's ICT services are owned by the Department. Server capacity falls into the following ranges:

Up to 200 gigabytes – 101 servers.

Between 200 gigabytes and 1 terabyte – 160 servers.

In excess of 1 terabytes – 23 servers.

My Department's experience is that the most cost effective means of maintaining these servers is to include at the time of purchase manufacturers' warranty and maintenance services for the expected life time of the unit. At current costs this averages less than €800 per annum per unit, including VAT, for the level of service required.

My Department seeks to consolidate its ICT infrastructure and services where possible thereby reducing the number of servers required and containing and reducing costs. This is an on-going programme of work as equipment and services are replaced or upgraded or where new services are being introduced. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.