Watchdog hits out as public sector IT costs soar

THE litany of public sector computer systems running way over budget and proving inadequate to the job required was lashed by the taxpayers’ watchdog yesterday.

As civil servants were grilled over the latest information technology system shambles, members of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee vented their anger at State bodies consistently coming in blaming their IT systems.

The computer system for the Forest Service of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources went from costing €5.3m to €9.2m and it was estimated yesterday that the job could ultimately cost 15m.