Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 2

Written Answers. - GTN Directory.

Joe Jacob

Question:

69 Mr. Jacob asked the Minister for Finance whether his attention has been drawn to the availability throughout the Civil Service and to Members of the Oireachtas of the Government's Telecommunications Network Directory on computer within an on-line Lotus Notes database; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that a large number of the documents contained within this database are now incorrect; the names and contact numbers of the persons in his Department who are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the portion of this database which relates to his Department, both in terms of content and replication to the CMOD master copy of the database; the date on which that portion of the database which relates to his Department was last updated; if he will ensure that the database is accurately maintained in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6783/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The GTN on-line directory service, which was developed by the centre for management and organisation development (CMOD) of my Department, was introduced in late 1995. It operates on the basis of participating Departments and offices being responsible for the currency of their entries. While this directory service is available as a Lotus Notes database to all Departments, at this stage, 15 Government Departments and offices and the President's establishment avail of it. The on-line directory service also provides an efficient method of collecting material for the printed version of the GTN directory which is circulated to all Departments.

Difficulties of a technical nature have arisen with four of the 15 Departments availing of the service which has affected the replication of their information to the central copy of the directory in CMOD. These have been resolved in the case of two Departments, and new procedures are being implemented in the other two Departments to ensure a smooth transfer of information to CMOD.

With regard to my own Department, the use of the Lotus Notes product is currently being extended which will make it possible from May 1997 to maintain the on-line GTN directory for the Department up to date.