Vol. 491 No. 3
406 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [11791/98]
As an extension of a fundamental review of the information technology requirements of my Department last year, a year 2000 impact and strategy study of the Department's IT systems was carried out earlier this year. This report, which encompassed the Department's head office, prisons, courts and associated offices was completed at the end of March at a total cost of £19,200. It examined all systems, hardware, software and environments in use in the Department. The report confirms that the Department's systems are not at a high risk of substantial failure due to the Department's policy of replacement of older legacy systems, which is being implemented at present.
In relation to hardware components, an inventory of all equipment has been carried out and assessed. The inventory identified a very small number of items which are not compliant. In addition the Department's replacement policy means that many items will be replaced before the end of 1999. My Department will ensure that all new purchases are compliant. The report does identify some specific work to be carried out on systems and environments in order to make them year 2000 compliant. The estimated incremental cost of this work is estimated at £65,000 and my Department is currently working on the implementation of the recommendations of the report.
The progress to date in relation to the other agencies under my aegis is given below.
Garda
I am advised by the Garda authorities that work in relation to making their systems year 2000 compliant is well advanced and the subject of ongoing analysis and review. The estimated cost of making systems which fall outside the scope of the Police Using Leading Systems Effectively Project (PULSE) year 2000 compliant is £347,000, of which £5,000 has been expended to date. The PULSE project will replace the existing Garda mainframe systems which have year 2000 difficulties associated with them.
The Land Registry
I am advised by the Registrar of Titles that in the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds initial assessment and remedial work in relation to year 2000 compliance commenced in February 1997. At this stage, a business impact assessment and full analysis of remedial requirements has been carried out in respect of each system and category of equipment. This work has established that the bulk of office equipment is already compliant and that a simple upgrade will be required from manufacturers in respect of some other equipment. It will be necessary to replace a small number of older items of equipment. It is intended that compliance will be achieved by the end of 1998 in respect of all IT systems which are being retained.
All assessment and remedial work to date has been conducted by in-house personnel at an estimated cost of £31,000. The costs directly attributable to the year 2000 compliance programme in the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds have been estimated at £142,000. This includes hardware and software elements, third party services and internal staff costs.
The Legal Aid Board
To date £41,599 has been spent on upgrading computer hardware. A further £144,983 will be spent on upgrading computer hardware and software to ensure year 2000 compliance.
