Vol. 498 No. 4
409 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [27236/98]
My Department has ensured that all products purchased since 1997 are year 2000 compliant. In addition, my Department is currently implementing a major programme of work designed to ensure that all its existing IT systems and all of the hardware and software components of its IT infrastructure will continue to work through the changeover to the next millennium. The programme of work also deals with the potential impact of the millennium bug on non-IT equipment with embedded electronics e.g. phone systems, lifts, security systems etc.
My Department's programme of work is progressing well towards the goal of ensuring that any adverse effects of the millennium bug on the Department's operations will be minimal.
With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department, status reports are sought from 90 bodies every two months and these form the basis of bimonthly progress reports to Government. It would appear that a number of bodies, particularly larger bodies, are making good progress at present but continuing close monitoring of the general situation will be necessary.
The total amount of money included in this year's departmental Estimates for new IT equipment, office equipment and consultancy for my Department in 1999 is £930,000. In spending this allocation, priority will continue to be given to implementing new or upgraded IT systems or office equipment required to ensure the achievement of year 2000 compliance by my Department. I anticipate that approximately 70 per cent of the £930,000 allocation will be devoted to this purpose. Bodies under the aegis of my Department will continue in 1999 to address year 2000 problems from within their existng resources, if necessary by re-prioritising expenditure. In the event of additional funding being required to address critical Y2K problems identified in embedded systems in use in these bodies in 1999, application will be made to the Department of Finance for the necessary resources to be made available from the £40 million central emergency fund.
