I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 to 376, inclusive, together.
My Department currently estimates that it has requirements of approximately €202,000 for hardware and €22,500 for software for the second half of 2006. Thus far in 2006 the Department has tendered for hardware valued at €78,000.
My Department follows the Public Procurement Guidelines issued by the Department of Finance and the relevant EU Directives in all its information technology purchasing. My Department does not keep records of suppliers data based on nationality or size of enterprise. My Department does not use the LGCSB weighting system. The average invoice value in relation to IT purchases in my Department since its foundation is €2,593.38. In the time available, given the number of discrete IT purchases involved, it was not possible to complete a full frequency distribution of observed values or quantities such that exact medians could be established. The most frequently occurring value of purchase is, however, €925.65 (in respect of the Dell Optiplex 170L).