My Department’s schemes and services are supported by a wide range of complex interconnected IT systems, the maintenance and development of which is supported by external resources. It is understood that the Deputy’s question relates to this support.
Three companies provided such support in 2018 and are continuing to do so today. The three companies were contracted through scheduled open tendering processes. The contracts awarded for a period of 3 years with the possibility of extension for a further year.
The amount paid including VAT in respect of contracts for external support in relation to the support provided in Q4, 2018 relating to systems supporting:
- the Basic Payment Scheme, Greening, Entitlements, National Reserve, Protein Aid Scheme, Young Farmers Scheme and maintenance / redevelopment of the Geospatial Information / Land Parcel Identification System
and the
- Generic Claims Processing System supporting the GLAS schemes, TAMS II, Organic Farmers Schemes, the various KT schemes and GLAS Training schemes
- and the processing of forestry grants and premium applications was €3,075,324.
Costs are associated with the contracts in place and are not associated with individual schemes.