Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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539. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to other State agencies and if his own Government Department have used any of the same IT services providers as the Arts Council (details supplied) and have experienced cost overruns or encountered delays or other issues with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11934/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that my Department has not used the named IT service provider. One of my Department's Offices, the Workplace Relations Commission, had one contract with the provider for the provision of digital platforms to enhance our services to the public and to create internal efficiencies. This contract came in under budget. The first phase of the project was to enhance internal efficiencies for the Conciliation and Mediation services. This also included enabling better data analytics. This was delivered on time and under budget. The subsequent phase was to provide accessible access to WRC services using an eComplaint form which was released to the public in 2024. This was also delivered within budget but was over time on foot of critical security steps required to ensure the safety of our networks, systems and personal data.

Following an RFQ process, the named provider supported the CCPC with ICT services for a project in the second half of 2024. The project was completed on time and within the original agreed budget.

Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the CEA have notified my Department that they had no contracts with the named provider.

My Department recognises the importance of delivering projects on time and within budget and with adherence to the Public Spending Code. The Management Board of my Department undertakes an oversight role with respect to internal projects within the Department and also within the Offices under the aegis of the Department. Within the Agencies under the aegis of my Department, management of projects is an operational matter for each Agency and internal oversight arrangements are in place where the Board of each Agency monitors delivery of ongoing projects. Each Agency also provides regular updates to my Department with respect to the delivery of significant internal projects.

With specific reference to project expenditure on the development of ICT and digital systems, I can confirm that there are ongoing governance and oversight arrangements in relation to ICT and digital projects both within my Department and within the Offices and Agencies under the aegis of my Department which operate to monitor and report on progress in the delivery of such projects. You will appreciate that ICT projects within the public sector often involve a degree of complexity including delivery on a multi annual basis. Given this, the final cost of a major ICT project can sometimes change due to expanding business or legislative requirements as well as a result of cost inflation in the marketplace. There are internal governance processes in place to consider the requirement for and (as appropriate approve) a revision to the budget allocations for individual ICT projects.

Finally, I would note that an additional layer of project assurance for ICT and digital projects is in place through the Digital Government Oversight Unit within the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer as detailed in DPENDPR Circular 14/2021 which also includes a Peer Review process with respect to significant digital and ICT initiatives with a budget exceeding €2million. My Department and the Offices and Agencies under the aegis of my Department are required to fully comply with the oversight arrangements set out under DPENDPR Circular 14/2021.