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Information Technology.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (207, 208, 209, 210, 211)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

219 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the information technology purchasing requirements, for both hardware and software, in her Department for the second half of 2006; the requirements for which tender requests have been issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26033/06]

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Written answers

Several requirements for information technology goods and services have been issued or are currently being evaluated. These include contracts for the provision of servers and laptops, the provision of new data backup hardware, maintenance services for the existing software infrastructures and spyware management infrastructure. All purchasing requirements comply with the Department's procurement policies.

It is envisaged that during the second half of 2006 proposals will be sought for the provision of helpdesk support and desktop management services, the supply of personal computers, desktop software, computer consumables, computer room fit out, communication services, spam filtering, security products and web support.

Additional procurements may be necessary depending on future requirements, such as the integration of the various elements of the Office of the Minister of Children.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

220 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her Department’s information technology purchasing policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26048/06]

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Ruairí Quinn

Question:

223 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to support the development of the indigenous software industry through her Department’s public procurement process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26093/06]

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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 223 together.

All procurements in my Department, including IT procurement, are governed by the principles of transparency, equal treatment, proportionality and mutual recognition and these principles are recognised both at a national and EU level. Purchases for information technology goods and services including the purchase of software development services are done in accordance with public procurement law, national and EU procurement rules and guidelines.

These rules preclude giving any preferential treatment to any suppliers, indigenous or otherwise. Contracts are awarded on the basis of published criteria and all suppliers must be treated equally. My Department makes extensive use of the eTenders web site when opportunities for procurement arise. In many instances potential procurement opportunities are structured so as to encourage small and medium enterprises to submit proposals that will meet requirements. My Department is currently drafting its procurement strategy and is updating its procurement policy as required under the National Public Procurement Policy Framework. Both of these documents will be finalised in the autumn. The policies and procedures in place in my Department meet all national and EU procurements requirements.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

221 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the percentage of information technology spend in her Department that went to Irish SMEs in each year from 2002 to date in 2006; the percentage for European Union and European Economic Area SMEs; if systems are in place in her Department’s procurement procedures to give preference to SMEs, such as the weighting system in place in the Local Government Computer Services Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26063/06]

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My Department does not routinely hold information regarding information technology purchases in the format requested by the Deputy. Following an analysis of expenditure for the last four full years the table below sets out the estimated spend attributable to SMEs. An SME is taken to be a company of fewer than 250 employees or with an annual turnover of less than €50m.

Year

ICT Expenditure

% SME

€m

%

2002

1.527

79

2003

2.801

37

2004

2.060

34

2005

2.078

40

Total

8.466

44

During this period nearly all SMEs spend was in the EU or EEA area. In many instances potential procurement opportunities are structured so as to encourage small and medium enterprises to submit proposals that will meet requirements. While I am not in a position to comment on weighting systems used in the organisation referred to by the Deputy my Department purchases information technology services in line with both national and EU guidelines.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

222 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average size of information technology procurement contracts in her Department; the median size of such contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26078/06]

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My Department deals with a number of suppliers in meeting its needs for information technology goods and services, including hardware, software, maintenance services, software development, security, web services and consumables. The following data are based on expenditure by company in 2005.

Number of companies: 48.

Mean: €43,296.

Median: €17,680

Question No. 223 answered with QuestionNo. 220.
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