Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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412. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the bodies under his aegis which are non-commercial State agencies that have an annual budget expenditure of €5 million or greater and annual ICT expenditure of €100,000 or greater as per circular 02/2016; if any of these bodies are not compliant with their obligations under the circular; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since 2016 no retrospective approval for expenditure for ICT over €25,000 was granted by his Department and that no incomplete or draft documentation was accepted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16856/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that I am aware of the provisions set out in Circular 02/2016, which was issued by my Department, including those pertaining to completeness of documentation and approval in retrospect.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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413. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all bodies under his aegis as defined under section 4b of Circular 02/2016 have submitted detailed plans to his Department of current year ICT-related expenditure; if any expenditure greater than €25,000 was approved by his Department prior to any advertisement on e-tenders or through any other competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16857/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out below.

Office of Public Works

The Office of Public Works (OPW) was notified by the Digital Government Oversight Unit (DGOU) in my Department on 23 March 2021 of a new electronic portal for submission of Start of Year and End of Year Returns for ICT expenditure and Requests for Specific Approval to the DGOU. The OPW was also informed that the deadline for submissions for 2021 has been extended to 30 April 2021. OPW is now in the process of preparing a submission in line with the requirements of Circular 02/2016.

ICT equipment, software or services greater than €25,000 for the OPW to date in 2021 were acquired through a competitive tendering process or use of an existing Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework. The Office of Public Works uses OGP frameworks and competitive tendering when acquiring ICT equipment software unless no such framework exists.

National Shared Services Office

The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) was formally notified by the Digital Government Oversight Unit (DGOU) of my Department on 23 March 2021 of a new electronic portal for submission of Start of Year and End of Year Returns for ICT expenditure and Requests for Specific Approval to the DGOU. The NSSO was also informed that the deadline for submissions for 2021 has been extended to 30 April 2021. NSSO is now in the process of preparing a submission in line with the requirements of Circular 02/2016.

Expenditure greater than €25,000 by the NSSO has not been approved by my Department prior to any advertisement on e-tenders or through any other competition.

Public Appointments Service

The Public Appointments service (PAS) have not yet submitted detailed plans of current year ICT related expenditure to my Department but expect to be compliant with the revised deadline of the 30 April 2021.

No expenditure for PAS greater than €25,000 was approved by my Department prior to any advertisement on eTenders or through any other competition.

State Laboratory

As instructed by the Digital Government Oversight Unit (DGOU) in February 2021, the State Laboratory postponed submission of their 2021 plans to my Department, pending the roll-out of the eDGOU system. However, plans will be submitted before the revised deadline of 30 April.

No expenditure for the State Laboratory greater than €25,000 was approved by my Department prior to any advertisement on eTenders or through any other competition.

Office of the Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman has made its 2021 submission to my Department under Circular 02/2016.

No expenditure for the Office of the Ombudsman greater than €25,000 was approved by my Department prior to any advertisement on eTenders or through any other competition.

Office of the National Lottery Regulator (ORNL)The ORNL is not required to submit ICT expenditure plans to my Department.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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414. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total expenditure on ICT services by each body under his aegis for each year from 2016 to 2020 inclusive; the total cost of ownership of each of the top two ICT projects of each of these agencies during that time frame; the percentage of total ICT expenditure of each body that was not spent through OGP frameworks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16858/21]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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416. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual expenditure on ICT for each body under his aegis that was not spent through an OGP framework or that was in excess of any agreed award through e-tenders since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 416 together.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below.

In line with Standing Order 51A, I have been advised that the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) will respond directly to the Deputy within the next 10 days.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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415. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if staff costs or project staff costs are relevant to calculations of ICT expenditure under circular 02/2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16859/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Circular 02/2016, issued by my Department, sets out arrangements for the oversight of Digital and ICT projects and initiatives across the Public Service. While staff costs are not included, submissions should include costs relating to external resources.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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417. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of annual expenditure in each year since 2016 on ICT contractors and ICT consultants for each body under his remit; the total cost of ownership of any new software systems not approved in advance by his Department; the total expenditure on ICT hardware not procured through an OGP framework; the reason it was not procured through the OGP; if all ICT consultancies were procured and processed in line with the appendix to circular 02/2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below.

In line with Standing Order 51A, I have been advised that the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) will respond directly to the Deputy within the next 10 days.