Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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368. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount spent on external information technology consultants by his Department in each of the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23445/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy can be found in the table.

Since 2011 my Department has awarded two ICT consultancy contracts, based on the EU open procurement process:

-In 2013 a contract for ICT security consultancy services was agreed with NTA Monitor for a period of two years. The service consists of quarterly independent assessments of my Department’s ICT security measures and a biannual independent security review of my Department's ICT infrastructure. This is required for EU accreditation purposes in order to maintain my Department’s status as the EU-accredited paying agency in Ireland. In addition, services for independent internet-facing application security testing are provided for. We are currently in the process of re-tendering for this work in accordance with EU procurement procedures.

-My Department is also heavily reliant on high quality Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to both assist with the effective and efficient administration of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) based single payment and agri-environmental schemes and also in carrying out our animal health and farm inspection obligations. Following an open public tendering procedure held in 2012, my Department awarded a contract to Compass Informatics to carry out a review of the operation of the Department’s GIS systems and to produce a technical report on how to ensure that these systems continue to serve my Department well into the future. The final report was completed as scheduled and a number of the recommendations have been implemented.

The total amount spent on external IT consultants in each year is as follows: