Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Computer Programmes.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

368 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [27234/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am satisfied that both my Department and the offices and agencies under the aegis of my Department have a detailed programme of work in place to prepare for year 2000 compliance and that every effort is being made to ensure that compliance is achieved.

A Year 2000 Monitoring Committee is in place to monitor and report on progress in this regard. Relevant divisions of my Department and each of the agencies and offices under my Department's aegis are represented on the monitoring committee.

In relation to critical systems in my Department, the Garda Síochána, the Courts, the Prisons Service and the Land Registry, the Deputy will appreciate that major computerisation programmes are in place in any event for these organisations. Many systems due for delivery in phase 1 of PULSE ( Police Using Leading Systems Effectively) will replace non-compliant mainframe systems in the Garda Síochána. Similarly the new courts and prisons systems and the Land Registry Title Registration System will replace non-compliant systems. These systems will also provide significantly increased functionality in addition to ensuring compliance. In addition, there are a number of smaller computerisation projects under way in the other agencies associated with my Department.

Similarly office equipment and plant fall to be replaced over a period and their replacement with equipment and plant which is year 2000 compliant is ongoing for some time now.

In relation to the costs associated with replacement of the equipment in question, the Deputy will appreciate that, while the computerisation programmes in place will assist my Department and the agencies-offices concerned in ensuring year 2000 compliance, it would be unfair to say that the funding involved has been allocated to these programmes simply to deal with the year 2000 problem.

No additional staff have been taken on for year 2000 work. There was a separate short consultancy project (involving three external consultants) earlier this year to determine the scale of the problem faced by my Department. While there are consultants employed at present by the Department in relation to the major computerisation programmes for the Garda Síochána, the courts, the prisons, the Land Registry and for my Department, these have not been engaged to deal with year 2000 compliance. However, year 2000 compliance will be a by-product of their work.

In relation to general policing matters I am informed by the Garda authorities that where a policing function is required, contingency plans form part of the overall plan to police any given situation.