258 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of computer servers that are owned by her Department and each State agency under her aegis; the amount of capacity on each server; the cost of maintaining these servers; the steps being taken to reduce this cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35535/11]

For its internal IT operations, the Department utilises 344 servers with total memory of 4,271 gigabytes. The annual maintenance cost for these servers is EUR60,000. The maintenance contract is due for renewal in 2012 and in that context the Department will be seeking to reduce the costs of server maintenance.

Three statutory bodies operate under the aegis of the Department; they are the Pensions Board, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Citizens Information Board. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department.

The Pensions Board

The Pensions Board owns 19 servers with a combined memory capacity of 76 Gigabytes. The cost of maintaining servers falls under the annual maintenance and support charge of €7,995 (ex VAT). The Board intends to review and consider the upgrade of ICT hardware and supporting software infrastructure during 2012.

Citizens Information Board

The Citizens Information Board own 17 computer servers. The capacities of the servers and associated maintenance costs are presently being compiled and will be forwarded to the deputy in due course.

The Social Welfare Tribunal

The Social Welfare Tribunal does not own any computer servers.

Office of the Pensions Ombudsman

There is one server on the premises of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman and it supports the IT applications of the Office. This server is owned by the Department and is included under the Department's internal IT Operations figures above.

259 Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the make and model of a scanner used in her Department’s document, record and information management programme; the number of scanners being used; if she is satisfied that those resources are equipped to meet capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35547/11]

The Document, Record and Information Management (DRIM) programme is a key part of my Department's ongoing change and modernisation programme. An objective of the DRIM programme is to eliminate, as far as possible, all paper from the administrative process and to store, retrieve and process records in an electronic format. By scanning documentation, certificates and customer application forms, the scanned images are made available online to staff and, where appropriate, data are captured to facilitate automation of business processes.

Since 2007 new automated business processes have been developed under the Department's Service Delivery Modernisation (SDM) programme utilising large-scale scanning and data capture in headquarter offices in Letterkenny, Sligo, Longford and Dublin. It is also planned to deploy scanners to local officers in support of the improved registration process. In addition, some smaller-scale scanning of administrative papers also takes place in other locations. Details of the make and model of the scanner equipment currently in use in these areas are set out in the table.

Scanning and data capture has facilitated automation of business processes with consequent improvements in service delivery for customers. I am satisfied that the current equipment and level of resources is sufficient to meet scanning volumes being processed and is kept under review by business areas to ensure a high level of service.