Vol. 480 No. 6
217 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Finance whether a year 2000 project team has been established in relation to the development of computerised systems; if so, when it was established in each Government Department; the progress, if any, which has already been made and the progress expected by the end of 1997; when each Department expects to have a fully compliant year 2000 system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14640/97]
Work has been under way for some time to ensure that Information Technology (IT) systems and other office equipment in the Civil Service will not be adversely affected by the Year 2000 problem.
An Interdepartmental Group on the Year 2000 was set up in 1996 to focus on common technical issues affecting Government Departments and Offices.
Earlier this year, each Department and Office was required to ensure that their IT systems and office equipment were Year 2000 compliant and to draw up plans for dealing with any non-compliant systems by early 1999. This planning exercise is now complete and all plans have been reviewed by the Department of Finance.
It is evident from the plans that many potential Year 2000 problems have already been eliminated by the replacement of ageing computer systems and infrastructures. Considerable remedial work is on-going in Departments and Offices, particularly in those most affected and they expect that this remedial work will be completed by early 1999.
