Vol. 498 No. 4
148 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the extent of her Department's preparedness for the year 2000 problem, including agencies for which she is responsible; the amount of money contained in this year's Departmental Estimates for dealing with the problem; the number of additional staff taken on to assist year 2000 work including any outside consultants involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27226/98]
My Department has had in place for the last two years a programme to deal systematically with this problem. This is well advanced with the bulk of the remedial work and testing being due for completion by the end of this year and the remainder by early to mid next year.
The Estimates for my Department contain a provision of £15,000 to deal with the problem in 1999. This figure reflects the fact that the programme is now almost complete. In addition, much of the remaining work is being carried out as an integral part of maintenance and project work which would have been undertaken in any event. There were no additional staff taken on specifically to deal with the year 2000 issue.
I am monitoring on a regular basis the progress of the State agencies under my aegis in preparing for the year 2000. I am informed by these agencies that they are satisfied that all their critical systems will be operational in time for 1 January 2000. The cost of necessary compliance work in the State agencies and the additional staff engaged is an operational matter for the agencies concerned.
There are formal regular reporting procedures on progress in respect of my Department and the State agencies to Government. I am, therefore, confident in the ability of my Department and the State agencies for which I am responsible to cope adequately with the year 2000 problem. However, as a matter of prudence, I will be ensuring that appropriate contingency plans are in place.
