Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014
502. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent on external IT consultants by her Department in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49169/14]
View answer503. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49184/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together. In addition to expenditure on IT consultancy services, the IT unit of my Department engages contract staff and external service providers to provide specialist technical support and deliver specific projects where needed. The total spend on external staff (consultancy, contractors and external service providers) was as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2010 |
€1,353,466 |
|
2011 |
€1,486,158 |
|
2012 |
€1,507,434 |
|
2013 |
€1,403,874 |
|
2014 |
€1,145,553 (to 17 December 2014) |
Where IT consultancy, external service providers or contract staff are required for specific projects then the Department conducts procurement exercises in accordance with current ICT procurement policy. In late 2013, my Department commenced an open procurement exercise for admission to a multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of temporary contract ICT personnel, replacing the previous Framework Agreement which expired earlier this year. The new Framework Agreement came into effect in February 2014 and is in place for an initial two-year period, with the option to extend for a further two years, subject to satisfactory performance. As and when a specific requirement for resources arises during the life of the Framework Agreement, the Department issues mini-tenders to participants on the Framework, inviting them to submit competitive bids. This reduces the time taken for the Department to respond to business demands while ensuring value for money on an ongoing basis.
Details of ICT procurement policy may be accessed on http://ictprocurement.gov.ie/ or http://ict.gov.ie/ictexpenditure/ictcontrol.aspx.
