Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Finance the total amount spent on external IT consultants by his Department in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49171/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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A large portion of my Department's expenditure on external IT service providers relates to the ongoing support, maintenance and occasional enhancement of the systems acquired for the provision of pension payment, banking and financial management services. This expenditure is non-discretionary and the associated contract costs are generally fixed at a percentage of the initial software acquisition costs.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Finance 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. [49186/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Following the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2011, responsibility for IT policy and network support for the Department of Finance transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a shared services basis. Decision-making for the majority of discretionary spend moved to that Department at that time.