Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 6

Written Answers - Computer Programmes.

John Gormley

Question:

99 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the work concerned with the resolution of the year 2000 problem in view of the report in a newspaper (details supplied) of 15 November 1998 that some Government Departments are experiencing difficulties in handling the problem. [24377/98]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The Government is treating the year 2000 problem very seriously and has instructed all Departments and offices to afford it top priority.

Each Department and office is individually responsible for ensuring it achieves year 2000 compliance in good time. All of them have comprehensive year 2000 programmes in place and remedial work has been ongoing since 1996. The Government has instructed senior management to take a personal interest in overseeing this year 2000 compliance work, and each Department/office has established an internal monitoring committee, chaired by a senior manager, which reports to its senior management and Minister regularly on the progress they are making.

The Government has also established an inter-departmental year 2000 monitoring committee, with private sector representation, to oversee the achievement of year 2000 compliance for IT systems and other office equipment across the Civil

Service. The committee levies status updates on each Department/office every two months and, based on these updates, the committee reports to Government on the progress being achieved. The committee has reported on five occasions to date.

Some delays have been experienced from time to time by a number of Departments/offices in progressing this year 2000 programmes. These have been caused primarily by staff losses and difficulties getting solutions from suppliers.

A number of actions have been taken to offset staff losses. Many Departments/offices have deferred planned IT projects and the staffing resources established for these projects have been diverted to year 2000 remedial work. In the case of the most critical Departments/offices, almost all IT staff are now working on year 2000 compliance programmes. A sizeable number of staff who have been working on making systems euro compliant will become available very early in 1999 and many of these will be redeployed to year 2000 remedial work. The Civil Service Commission and the Department of Finance are working together to ensure that effective recruitment/selection systems are in place to assure a constant and timely supply of suitable appointees to IT grades in Departments and offices throughout 1998 and 1999. The Department of Finance is also concluding negotiations with the Civil Service unions on a package of measures aimed at stemming losses from key IT areas.

Senior management in all Departments/offices have been instructed to personally engage themselves in the year 2000 effort and implement whatever measures are necessary to ensure a timely response from suppliers.

While a lot of work remains to be done, reasonable progress is being made and all Departments and offices are satisfied that they will achieve full compliance in good time.