Taoiseach refuses to give answers on IT controversy

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern refused to answer a series of questions in the Dáil yesterday on yet another controversial Government IT project.

The Department of Finance gave oral sanction for the Hospital Information System, through which individuals’ records could be computerised and shared between hospitals, on April 29 this year, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said.

The following day, which was a Saturday, contracts for the system were signed with a company called iSoft. The contracts were worth €56 million over 10 years, and covered software and maintenance only. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has already admitted that the overall system could cost up to €400m over 10 years to roll out.