My Department has identified a number of areas for the development and encouragement of e-government for 2001. These include:
an improved public information service and the expansion of the publication of information on Ireland via the Department's main website and by websites set up by the Department's offices abroad;
research into the development of an automated passport application cycle integrated with the REACH and OASIS projects;
showcasing Ireland through the deployment of leading edge technologies at the Department's offices in Ireland and abroad.
My Department has requested a total of £400,000 for these initiatives in 2001 which represents the initial phases of these projects and is made up of allocations from the administrative budget and the information society fund. Arrangements for the draw down of funds from the information society are currently the subject of discussions with the Department of Finance. It is expected that these projects will require further funding in future years.