Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Computer Programmes.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

288 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent of his Department's preparedness for the year 2000 problem, including agencies for which he is responsible; the amount of money contained in this year's departmental Estimates for dealing with the problem; the number of additional staff taken on to assist year 2000 work including any outside consultants involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27230/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

My Department has been working on the year 2000 aspects of its internal systems in parallel with normal developments since early 1997 and current indications are that compliance will be achieved in good time. My Department has a year monitoring committee in place, chaired by an assistant secretary, to oversee the process.

I have a major programme in place to ensure year 2000 readiness in the agencies under my aegis. The main elements of this programme are creation of awareness, facilitating co-ordination and sharing of resources and information, provision of limited on the ground assistance to agencies and monitoring progress. Year 2000 guidelines have been issued setting out a recommended approach to dealing with the problem and a number of seminars have been organised for managers and technical specialists. Six special interest groups have been set up covering different aspects of the year 2000 problem where remedial action may be required. My Department is monitoring progress on a monthly basis for larger agencies and two monthly for smaller agencies. This programme is being directed and monitored by a committee chaired by an assistant secretary and I am reporting progress to Government every two months.

My Department has been allocated £14 million for IT projects in 1999 and it is anticipated that a large proportion of this will be spent resolving potential year 2000 problems. In addition, a total of £10 million for replacement equipment has recently been allocated to health agencies in the letters of determination and the Minister for Finance has set aside a contingency fund of £40 million for dealing with the year 2000 problem which it will be possible to call upon, if it proves necessary.

Year 2000 remediation work for the systems within my Department is being undertaken as part of the normal work with a small input from IT companies specialising in year 2000 remediation. I have reassigned two officers within my Department on a full-time basis to co-ordinate the year 2000 programme for the agencies under my aegis. Assistance has also been provided to my Department by a major Dublin hospital and other health agencies, mainly in the area of medical equipment.