Vol. 498 No. 4
347 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs 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. [27232/98]
A year 2000 impact assessment study was undertaken in my Department between October 1996 and February 1997. The results of the study indicated that some 120 person years of effort would be needed to achieve year 2000 compliance in reaspect of all computer hardware and software used in the Department.
The main focus in 1998 has been on the critical systems used to support administration of the wide range of payment schemes in the Department. Year 2000 remediation work on these systems is now 95 per cent complete and is on target for finalisation by the end of the first quarter of 1999.
Bodies under the aegis of the Department, Combat Poverty Agency, National Social Services Board and the National Pensions Board also expect to achieve compliance within the first quarter of 1999.
The Department's telecommunications natwork is being upgraded during 1999. The upgrade will include replacement of any components which have not been certified as year 2000 compliant.
Consultants were used to assist with the impact assessment study. A small amount of consultancy has also been used to assist with specialist activities during the project, e.g. database performance testing and to review the overall approach to software testing. The project was, however, undertaken largely by internal staff, many of whom were diverted from other work for the duration of the project. Approval was given for 45 additional posts to assist with the necessary remediation work and for 16 additional posts to support roll-out of the new network components.
A special fund of £8.5 million was approved by Government in 1997 for use by this Department on a drawdown basis over the duration of the year 2000 project. Some £4.8 million of this funding was allocated for 1998.
