Vol. 483 No. 6
437 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will use the potential of information technology to ensure that all necessary information is transferred between his Department, the Garda, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Chief State Solicitors Office. [21570/97]
My Department has for some time been committed to the use of information technology. This has been evidenced by the continuing commitment to the PULSE project which has seen a substantial investment in information technology for the Garda over the past number of years.
Earlier this year my Department also commissioned a study by Coopers & Lybrand on the information technology needs of the Department in the context of the major organisational reforms now under way — in particular the setting up of the Courts Service and Prisons Authority and the recently announced expert group review of the probation and welfare service. This study has now been completed, its recommendations approved and additional resources have been provided in the 1998 Estimates for all Votes under my aegis. This significant new investment further demonstrates the Government's practical commitment to new information technology systems for the Justice area. Underlying this investment is a commitment to appropriate integration of systems.
Some 20 projects have been identified for completion over the next three years. Among the major projects identified, is a detailed analysis of the information flows between the various agencies in the criminal justice system under my aegis. This will also identify the points where data needs to be exchanged with other agencies such as the Office of the DPP and Chief State Solicitor's office which, as the Deputy will be aware, are outside my area of responsibility. It is expected that this project, with the development of major case tracking systems within the courts and prisons areas and the delivery of Garda operational systems under the PULSE project, will lay the foundation for the increasingly effective use of technology in the criminal justice system.
