Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
253. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the total amount spent on external information technology consultants by his Department in the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23452/15]
View answer256. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has re-negotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23569/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 256 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 pension payment, banking and financial management services (and shared payroll services prior to 2015). 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.
