8 November 2001

COMPUTER VIRUS HITS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

Three Northern Ireland Government Departments have been hit by a computer virus.

The virus has closed down the computer systems in the Department of the Environment, the Department for Regional Development and the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure.

It is estimated that 5,000 computers in these departments will be Off-line until next week.

A Government spokesperson said: "While the service to the public will continue, there are areas that are specifically affected that will cause delays. These are as follows:

DOE’s DVLNI:

Contingency plans with the Agency’s IT supplier have been activated to enable driving licences to be continued to be issued.

A contingency plan for the manual issue of tax discs from all motor tax offices and from Coleraine has been invoked and is under continuous review. Vehicles can continue to be licensed at selected post offices as normal.

Enquiries requiring access to databases, eg, the status of an application, cannot be answered. Unfortunately two key transactions cannot be undertaken, the issue of vehicle registration books and the processing of refunds at present.

Customers can telephone the motor tax licensing enquiry line during office hours on 028 7034 1461.

Customers can telephone driver licensing enquiry line during office hours on 028 7034 1469.

DOE’s DVTA:

Driving Test

The issuing of dates and times of new appointments for driving tests cannot be provided until the computerized system is restored. Further new appointments for the theory test are not available.

MOT

Current MOT appointments are unaffected except for Belfast. As the Belfast system is computerized, new MOT appointments cannot be made. However, this will not affect existing tests.

All DVTA customers can telephone the customer helpline number on 0845 601 4094 during office hours.

DOE’s Planning Service

Unfortunately, the property certificate service is fully computerized and is not available. While new planning applications can continue to be lodged, no planning decisions can issue until the computerized system is restored.

Planning applications will continue to be considered as will visits to sites. Customers can contact Planning Service during office hours on:

Planning Service HQ 028 9054 0540

Belfast Division 028 9025 2800

Ballymena Division 028 2565 3333

Craigavon Division 028 3834 1144

Downpatrick Division 028 4461 2211

Londonderry Division 028 7131 9900

Omagh Division 028 8225 4000

DRD Roads Service

Customers who normally contact the agency by e-mail are asked to telephone 028 9054 0540 instead.

DRD Water Service

Services will not be affected in any way. Customers are asked to be patient if telephoning the agency’s Waterline number 0845 744 0088.

DCAL

The Department website and electronic communications with staff are unavailable.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The virus is known as NIMDA E
2. DVLNI Vehicle registration books cannot be issued. Refunds cannot be issued nor can Cherished Transfers (favourite registrations) to be processed;

   Enquiries requiring access to databases, eg, the status of an application cannot be answered

   A licence disc for registrations can be issued but registration books cannot.

   Driving licences can be issued.

   A full vehicle licensing and relicensing service can be offered by post to DVLNI’s Coleraine headquarters or at local offices. Vehicles can continue to be licensed at selected Post Offices using V11 forms.

   All applications will be accepted and processed on recovery of computer systems in date receipt order.

   All general vehicle licensing enquiries can be dealt with but specific enquiries cannot as these are computer databased.

   It is planned to issue reminder V11 forms for relicensing in December as usual.

3. DVTA

   Driving Test appointments are not available as the appointments letters service are fully computerized and it not available, theory test contractors cannot access new driver entitlement records.

   Belfast Test Centre appointments cannot be made, although as ‘hard copies’ exist for the next three working days, the short term impact on customers will be minimal.

   Duplicate vehicle test certificates are unavailable.

   The Internet site cannot be updated, consequently vehicle and driver test waiting times, fees, and the MOT2 renovation programme cannot be updated on the web. Customer enquiries may be delayed as databases may not be searched. A financial contingency plan to revert to manual payments within three working days will be implemented.

   Vehicle inspections are not affected.

4. For further information telephone the relevant Press Offices:

   DOE 028 9054 0003
   DRD 028 9054 0068
   DCAL 028 9025 8900