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An Garda Síochána is increasing in-house tech support staff in a bid to reduce its reliance on external contractors, the Dáils Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to be told.
The move comes after an internal Garda audit raised concern over procurement practices in relation to ICT (information and communications technology) contracts worth millions of euro.
Senior Garda representatives are also today expected to tell the PAC that steps are being taken to reduce reliance on any one ICT provider.
A report from the Garda Internal Audit Section (GIAS) on the ICT payments process states it could provide "no assurance that public procurement requirements are being complied with". It adds: "This represents high risk."
It also raised concern over the management of resources in relation to the forces main ICT contract.
PAC chairman Seán Fleming said the GIAS audit was carried out to examine the authorisation of ICT payments, the contractual position with vendors, and to obtain assurances those projects are monitored.
He said the PAC was "concerned" about a number of the reports findings, and said TDs would quiz the force "on what measures have been taken or are proposed to address the adequacy of resources to ensure proper monitoring and oversight of ICT projects."
A Garda submission to the PAC sets out the "crucial role" ICT plays in supporting policing.
Services dependent on ICT include the management of the emergency 999 communications control centre, incident recording, criminal investigations and the fingerprint system.
The submission says an Garda Síochána has "always been very conscious of the need to ensure the ICT budget available to it is maximised and is invested in a cost-effective manner".
And it says that despite a 50pc reduction in the capital budget due to the recession, the Garda ICT unit has successfully delivered a number of major projects including an automated number plate recognition system. It says that upgrading, replacing and developing new ICT systems has been a key element of the Garda modernisation and renewal programme.
The submission notes that the number of ICT staff employed is significantly lower than similar-sized public sector organisations. It says that as a result, it was necessary for the ICT department to avail of "a very significant level of external skilled resources".
The submission said issues raised by the GIAS report were being addressed.
One example given is that gardaí are tendering for new services with the existing contract being broken up into five different areas.
Its anticipated that reliance on a single provider will "significantly reduce" as a result.
It also says that over the last year the number of in-house skilled resources in ICT has begun to increase.
"Increased numbers and skills, combined with new structures in the ICT department, will reduce the level of dependency overall on external contractors," the submission adds.
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