IT rows delay child welfare system

Internal wrangling over the proposed IT system for recording and tracking of child welfare cases has been a major factor in its delayed introduction, new documents have shown.

Freedom of Information documents provided to the Irish Examiner reveal clashes between project management — including the HSE — and the Peer Review Group. They have been charged with providing independent oversight of the project, have been behind the delay in commencing the National Child Care Information System.

The system is to facilitate referral of cases, assessment, child protection, child welfare, family welfare conferences, and issues involving children in care.

Documents show the viability of the project was being questioned as far back as 2010. At a meeting of stakeholders on Aug 25, 2010, “The Peer Review Group restated their position: They have ‘major concerns’ about the priority of the project within the organisation and in the authority and ability of the governance structure to make decisions and in its ability to control the destiny of the project.

“They also have concerns around the level of user involvement, communication of the project and risk management.”

On the next page, under the title ‘Project Outlook’, it is stated: “The review of the RFT [request for tender] documentation is effectively on hold until corrective actions by the project team and other stakeholders involved are completed and closed out — to the satisfaction of the review group.

The “project will not meet the timelines set out in the project plan”.

The documents, including a continuous ‘risk register’, outlined a number of possible issues that could stall or halt the project. However, the biggest problem appeared to be resolving the concerns of the Peer Review Group.

Privately some people linked to the project have said the legacy of the PPARS (personnel, payroll, and related systems) project has led to increased scrutiny and an overly cautious approach to procurement of the software.

The new project is still due to come on stream this year and the documents show that many local health office staff have undergone training for it.