There are 25 personal digital assistant, PDA, type devices in use in my Department. The devices most commonly in use, which are also used as mobile phones, cost €200 each, exclusive of VAT. These are also the most expensive purchased to date. These devices are distributed to grades as follows:
Grade
|
Numbers in each category
|
Ministers of State, advisers, private secretaries, etc.,
|
9
|
Principal officers, equivalent or higher grades
|
8
|
Grades below principal officer.
|
8
|
Total
|
25
|
PDA devices are not issued as a matter of course. They are only given to staff who, either for technical or business reasons, are away from their offices on a regular basis and require e-mail and telephone contact with head office both during and outside office hours. Requests are considered on an individual basis and the allocation of devices is managed by the internal systems unit in my Department. The PDA devices in use give 24-hour, 7 days a week, year-round access to mail, calendar, contact and voice communications and are a vital communications facility for certain staff who need to be in constant contact with colleagues.