Nicola Grant Workers Party Regional Spokesperson has called The Public Accounts Committee into how the Northern Ireland Civil Service manages IT projects outrageous.

Ms Grant said the Report highlighted that £5 billion of public money is at risk because of the way the civil service manages its IT projects, she has called this systemic failure mismanagement that should be rectified immediately. At a time when public services are on their knees because of high demand and lack of funding, it is scandalous that the civil service who are often the architects of major changes to how services are delivered are themselves adverse to change is mind boggling.

The Workers Party believes that the long standing problems of management of digital transformation projects flags up major problems not only with accountability for billions of pounds spent on this projects. But also serious procurement issues with the continued use of extending existing contracts by on average 8years and one by 18 years shows a lack of governance within those particular projects and a complete failure of oversight by the departments responsible.

Ms Grant said at a time when the public are being told that the Executive must demonstrate value for money in all provisions of public services this report which highlights an aversion to change and a culture of disregard for public finances and an ongoing lack of risk assessment by all those involved. She finished by saying those who are driving change for the wider public sector would seem to be of the opinion that change and stewardship of the public purse does not apply to them which is shameful.