Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 2

Written Answers. - Reach Project.

Denis Naughten

Question:

52 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when he hopes that the Reach Project will be completed; when a review of the progress to date will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28191/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Reach is the cross-departmental programme established to integrate delivery of public services to citizens. The programme involves the development of a public services broker that will act as the common gateway to public services and will provide common services such as identity validation, storing and sharing of data and a secure environment for electronic Government services.

Reach and the public service broker are about providing the best possible service to customers, allowing them to conduct their dealings with the public service in the ways that best suit their needs. This will allow improvements in service through the traditional channels of contacts in local office and over the telephone as well as making services available through the new electronic channels.

The Reach programme is a major undertaking that will take a number of years to develop fully and that will involve nearly all public service agencies.

Considerable progress has already been made. The Reach agency has conducted an intensive series of workshops and consultations with other Departments and agencies and external experts. The basic model of the public services broker has been validated and developed in greater detail. The high level design of the broker will be published shortly for the guidance of other Departments and agencies, and to initiate the public consultation process.

The next step for Departments in moving forward the Reach agenda will be the preparation this month of their electronic service delivery strategies. A more detailed Reach programme for integrated service delivery will be published following a review of those strategies.

The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is actively involved in preparations for the development of the broker systems by helping other Departments and agencies to use the personal public services number as the common customer identifier. A publicity campaign – including the issue of a leaflet and other materials – has been staged to raise awareness of the number amongst members of the public and other public service agencies. Arrangements concerning the extension of the use of the PPS number have been worked out with several sectors.

Oasis – a pilot self-service information system for personal customers – is now live on the internet for evaluation and feedback purposes. This system is being developed by Comhairle as part of the Reach programme.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is developing a similar system – called Basis – catering for the needs of the business customer.

The other elements of the broker will be developed and implemented on a phased basis in accordance with the Government's overall strategy and timetable which will be announced as soon as the individual Department's and agencies-strategies are finalised and co-ordinated.

Question No. 53 taken with Question No. 42.