A number of key IT projects being undertaken by Government departments and State agencies are projected to run more than \u20ac61 million over budget, new figures submitted to a D\u00e1il committee show.<\/p>\n
A report by the D\u00e1il Public Accounts Committee<\/a> says the cost of the planned new next-generation contactless ticketing system, which will allow passengers to use their bank cards to travel<\/a> on buses<\/a>, trains<\/a> and the Luas<\/a>, was facing a cost overrun of \u20ac41 million. <\/p>\n The report indicates this project could now cost up to \u20ac269 million to deliver.<\/p>\n It is understood the figures in the report are being disputed and the committee is seeking clarification on this. <\/p>\n Sinn F\u00e9in TD John Brady, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said the cost overrun on this project was \u201cparticularly alarming\u201d.<\/p>\n The report also reveals that a \u20ac3.6 million case management system project for the Garda Ombudsman\u2019s office was terminated following contractual issues.<\/p>\n It says the Department of Children\u2019s affordable childcare scheme ICT project exceeded its original estimate by 49 per cent to reach a final cost of \u20ac10.6 million.<\/p>\n The report says a number of completed IT projects collectively overshot their budgets by about \u20ac11.5 million.<\/p>\n However, the report says overall spending was roughly in line with initial projections as underspending on some projects has offset overruns on others.<\/p>\n