Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.

In addition to expenditure on IT consultancy services, the IT unit of my Department engages contract staff and external service providers to provide specialist technical support and deliver specific projects where needed. The total spend on external staff (consultancy, contractors and external service providers) was as follows:

Year	Amount
2010	€1,353,466
2011	€1,486,158
2012	€1,507,434
2013	€1,403,874
2014	€1,145,553 (to 17 December 2014)

Where IT consultancy, external service providers or contract staff are required for specific projects then the Department conducts procurement exercises in accordance with current ICT procurement policy.

In late 2013, my Department commenced an open procurement exercise for admission to a multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of temporary contract ICT personnel, replacing the previous Framework Agreement which expired earlier this year. The new Framework Agreement came into effect in February 2014 and is in place for an initial two-year period, with the option to extend for a further two years, subject to satisfactory performance. As and when a specific requirement for resources arises during the life of the Framework Agreement, the Department issues mini-tenders to participants on the Framework, inviting them to submit competitive bids. This reduces the time taken for the Department to respond to business demands while ensuring value for money on an ongoing basis.

Details of ICT procurement policy may be accessed on or .