Vol. 485 No. 4
155 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the computer programmes in use in his Department currently use a two digit year code or a four digit year code; if it is the former, the steps, if any, being taken to examine each line of computer programme in use in his Department to convert two digit to four digit codes to cope with the identification of the Year 2000; and, if so, when this conversion with be complete. [23482/97]
156 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of lines of computer code in use in his Department and in each agency under its aegis. [23497/97]
157 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give an estimate of the cost of converting and testing computer programmes in use in his Department and in each agency under his aegis for the Year 2000 problem; and the conversion from the punt to the euro. [23514/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 156 and 157 together.
The impact of the Year 2000 issue on IT systems in my Department is being addressed under a specific Year 2000 plan which was adopted in July this year. The plan provides a structured mechanism to address such difficulties as are likely to arise in relation to: computer applications; computer system hardware and operating software; network infrastructure; telephone and communications facilities; and office and office premises equipment.
Work on implementing the plan is ongoing in my Department. While it is difficult to estimate all the costs of necessary remedial measures — including testing — until further preparatory and exploratory work is undertaken, current estimates suggest that a figure of around £200,000 should suffice; this estimate includes provision for issues relating to the introduction of the euro but does not include the cost of time spent on this work by departmental staff. Such corrective measures as are necessary will be put in place in sufficient time to allow systems to perform properly in the Year 2000 and subsequently.
The Deputy will appreciate that it would take considerable time to establish the exact number of lines of computer code in use in my Department. It should be noted, in the context of the Year 2000 problem, that the number of lines of code in use is not a useful measure of the effort required to resolve it. For example, remedial measures for computer code written in COBOL programming language require far greater effort than for 4th Generation Language code.
There are two COBOL systems in use in my Department. The principal COBOL system affected by the Year 2000 problem is the National Vehicle File. A new national vehicle and driver file system has been developed, and is being tested at present. The new system is expected to be operational in my Department's Vehicle Registration Unit in 1998. The other COBOL system for which the Year 2000 problem arises to a significant degree is the housing grants system. Work on this system is ongoing.
