Richard Bruton
Question:6 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the way in which the £850,000 in the 1994 Estimates for consultancy services in the Garda Síochána, a 467 per cent increase on the 1993 outturn, will be spent.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - 1994 Garda Estimates.
The increase in the provision for consultancy services in the 1994 Garda Estimates is in respect of the implementation of the Garda Síochána information technology plan, a central feature of the law and order package which I announced last December.
Could the Minister tell the House if any of this money has been spent on a communications system on which very substantial moneys were spent in the recent past and which were the subject of adverse comment by the Committee of Public Accounts and in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General?
A substantial amount of the 1994 allocation will be expended on the detailed conceptual design of new computerised information systems. It is not possible to specify exactly what other contracts will be placed but other areas where a consultancy input might be required in 1994 include systems design, networking and assessment of proprietary systems.
Is the Minister telling the House that some of this money will be spent on communications, not just internal information, because a substantial amount of money which was spent on a communications system would not appear to have achieved its objective? This was the subject of adverse comment and I would like the Minister to indicate if any of this money is being allocated to consultants in relation to the communications network as distinct from internal information.
My understanding is that the allocation is for computerised information primarily and the overall application architecture to bring it to a level that shows each of the individual operations and administrative systems and how they would integrate within the Garda system. It is also to upgrade and ensure that the best information technology possible is available to the Garda and to ensure also that it is provided while obtaining the best possible value for money.