Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Computerisation Programme.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

395 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2002 on IT software licences; the amount of that budget which was spent on the products of a company (details supplied); if his Department uses Linux or similar open source software; and if it has a policy position with regard to the promotion and use of such open source software, in the interests of cost savings or the development of a more transparent software industry. [24283/03]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

The Deputy will be aware that my Department was established in June 2002; during the period from June to end 2002 a total of €162,776 was spent on IT software licences, mainly necessitated by the transfer into my Department of functions from five other Departments. Some €145,086 was spent on the products referred to by the Deputy.

My Department does not currently have any open source software installed, nor does it have a role to play in the promotion of open source or any other software. All software required for internal use within the Department is acquired on the basis of such factors as functional fit to the Department's business, value for money, adherence to open standards and availability of skills to support and maintain the software on an on-going basis.