Vol. 491 No. 3
180 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in ensuring that each agency within his remit is year 2000 compliant; the cost of work done so far; the estimated cost of full compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/98]
In recent years, the Department and the Defence Forces have invested significant resources in upgrading computer systems in the main business areas such as payroll, financial management, inventory management and procurement.
While this investment was largely driven by business needs, the opportunity was taken to identify and plan the replacement or upgrading of systems which were not year 2000 compliant. As a result many of the systems in use are now compliant. A comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring the compliance of IT systems was drawn up in 1997. In accordance with this plan, a compliance audit of all systems will be completed in 1998.
The Department and the Defence Forces are confident that full compliance will be achieved in the lifetime of the current IT investment programme which runs to 1999.
Given that the investment programme is largely driven by business, as distinct from year 2000 needs, the Department has not calculated compliance costs per se. It might be of some assistance, however, to mention that total planned IT expenditure, capital and current, for the period 1997 to 1999, inclusive, is £9.3 million and this is expected to meet all IT needs, including year 2000 needs.
