That computers in private industry, as well as those in the State sector, are not capable of coping with the millennium change has been highlighted for some time. A number of groups are working to deal with this problem and in my Department this will be catered for by the change of equipment in 1998-99. There is no great difficulty from a cost point of view.
A working group has been dealing with this problem across Government Departments for a considerable time. We have looked at the cost factors and apart from changes in information technology, equipment and systems, there will be an additional estimated cost of about £12.6 million to ensure that all computers, particularly in the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, and the area of payments in the Department of Agriculture and Food, are accounted for.
An information group was recently set up to deal with this issue across Departments, including all management and IT unit systems already in operation. People have also been recruited from the private sector to assist in this and advice has been sought from outside agencies. This group will report to the Government on a quarterly basis, so computers across all Government services should be accounted for well in advance of 1999. The Deputy is correct in saying there is a cost factor, but this is necessary so the administration of information technology is compatible with the year 2000.