Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Electronic Government.

Rory O'Hanlon

Question:

815 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans for the development and encouragement of e-government in 2001, and the amount of money included in his Department's Estimate for this purpose in 2001. [1566/01]

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

My Department will shortly complete a strategic plan for the development of e-government and e-public services in my Department, local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department. In addition, there are currently several major e-government developments under way in my Department. These include a system which will allow housing grant applicants to track their applications as they are processed and a system to enable electronic application for the driving test. My Department is also co-ordinating a major project which is providing free Internet access to the public through the public library service.

There are also several projects under way in the local authority sector including areas such as e-planning and e-procurement. In order to support and encourage these developments I have made funding of over £11.5 million available for Intranet and related projects in local authorities for 2001-02. My Department is currently in discussion with the Department of Finance concerning funding from the Information Society Fund for the coming year. Funding for projects esti mated at £9 million has been requested. The outcome of these discussions will be reflected in my Department's revised estimate for 2001.