Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

462. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount spent on external IT consultants by his Department in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49172/14]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

463. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has re-negotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49187/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.

While my Department makes use of external IT service providers for various support and maintenance requirements for its data and communications networks, it has not engaged, nor re-negotiated contracts with, any IT consultants since March 2011.

In 2010 and 2011 the Department engaged consultants for the purpose of providing infrastructure and systems-related security advice and the amounts expended were €65,545 and €23,529 respectively.

It is my Department’s policy to seek competitive tenders and to test the market on a regular basis for all IT requirements.