Vol. 524 No. 2
211 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the schemes and supports available from his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department to schools, businesses, community groups and individuals, to promote information technology, including greater awareness of relevance, the development of skills and access to computers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22098/00]
My Department is fully committed to the use and promotion of information technology, IT. The importance which I attach to IT is evidenced by the production early this year of a new IT strategy for my Department. This strategy recognises the significance of the effective use of IT in the delivery of our schemes and services to all of our customers. This commitment has been included in our protocol for direct payments published in July of this year.
My Department currently provides a comprehensive range of services to our client base, including paying grants totalling some £2 billion per annum. While these operational schemes are fully computer supported, it is our intention in implementing the new strategy to web-enable all of these systems. The availability of an electronic service delivery channel will encourage our client base in the use of information technology. In addition, my Department already provides a vast amount of information on its website, which is being widely used by the public.
Also I should point out that my Department fully supports the objectives of the Information Society Commission and has actively participated in the work of the public sector implementation groups chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach.
My Department is currently drafting its e-government strategy and is exploring a number of initiatives consistent with the promotion of IT.
In addition, I should mention Leader, the EU initiative for rural development. Under Leader, funding may be provided to community groups, individuals and businesses for the purposes of increasing awareness of the relevance of information technology, enhancing information technology skills among rural dwellers and improving access to IT facilities in rural areas.
I have also asked the bodies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested.
