Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Computer Programmes.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

341 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress to date in ensuring that each agency within his remit is year 2000 compliant; the cost of work done so far; the estimated cost of full compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11788/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The impact of the year 2000 issue on IT systems in my Department is being addressed under a specific plan, and work on implementing the plan is ongoing in the Department. The estimated cost of necessary remedial measures is around £200,000, the greater part of which is as yet unexpended. This amount does not include the cost of time spent on this work by departmental staff.

Local authorities are by far the largest group of bodies under my Department's aegis, and the Local Government Computer Services Board — LGCSB — are playing a pro-active role in relation to year 2000 compliance in the local government sector. The estimated cost of remedial measures for IT systems in use by local authorities and developed and maintained by the LGCSB is about £350,000, of which some £200,000 has been expended to date.

The other bodies under the aegis of my Department have been asked to report on the implications of the year 2000 issue for their IT systems and on the steps being taken to ensure compliance. The Department will be assessing their responses. I do not at this stage have estimates of the costs to date or anticipated costs in these agencies.