Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Information Technology.

John McGuinness

Question:

337 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, being taken by his Department to encourage individuals and private companies to deal with his Department by the use of information technology; the schemes, if any, in place to grant aid or assist education in the use of information technology in the day to day dealings of his Department; the advancement, if any, in his Department's plans in relation to conducting business by e-commerce; and the initiatives, if any, being taken in this regard. [27655/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Currently, my Department provides an Internet site and electronic mail facilities which enable individuals and private companies to communicate electronically with the Department. An information technology programme currently under way will, when completed, improve this communication and provide the infrastructure which will enable further development particularly in the areas of e-commerce and e-Government. My Department is also part of an interdepartmental group set up to examine and report on the standards required to provide security in the transmission and storage of electronic documents and to support electronic government and electronic commerce.

The question of grant aiding or assisting the education of business or the general public in the use of information technology is not, however, within the remit of the Department.