Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
168. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the total amount spent on external IT consultants by his Department in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29154/14]
View answer169. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29173/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
A large portion of my Department's expenditure on external IT service providers relates to the ongoing support, maintenance and occasional enhancement of the systems acquired for the provision of shared payroll, pension, banking and financial management services. This expenditure is non-discretionary and the associated contract costs are generally fixed at a percentage of the initial software acquisition costs.
Following the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2011, responsibility for IT policy and network support for the Department of Finance transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a shared services basis. Decision-making for the majority of discretionary spend moved to that Department at that time.
During the period in question, none of my Department's IT expenditure related to general consultancy.
