Vol. 529 No. 1
1183 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [1571/01]
My Department is currently engaged in, and will shortly complete, the drafting of its e-government strategy which will set down a framework and timetable for the provision of a series of e-government on-line services to its clients.
Key priority areas for 2001 will include: implementation of a re-designed and much improved website which, inter alia, will make a wide range of Department circulars and forms available on-line to clients; developments in the certificate examinations area; playing an active role in the inter-departmental e-procurement project which is being developed in two stages – first, preparation of a strategic report for submission to Government by June 2001 and, second, implementation, subject to Government approval of the strategic report, of 12 pilot projects, including three in the education sector.
The precise amount of money to be included in my Department's Estimate for this purpose in 2001 is currently being discussed with the Department of Finance in the context of the finalisation of the Revised Estimates Volume for 2001.
1184 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of hits recorded on his Department's website in 2000. [1586/01]
The number of hits recorded on my Department's website in 2000 was approximately five million.
