Vol. 453 No. 6
32 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to make the Internet available in the public service in general and Leinster House in particular in view of the cost involved for the amount of information accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9657/95]
A study carried out by the Central IT Services — CITS — of my Department over the last three months addressed, inter alia, the provision of Internet services, on a reliable and secure basis, to Government Departments and offices. The study recommends that Internet services should be made available to all Government Departments and offices, including Leinster House, but that, in order to maintain the security of computer systems within the Civil Service, access should be provided through a single access point. A number of interconnected computers, collectively known as a “firewall”, at this access point, through which all traffic to and from the Internet would pass, would enable the highest available levels of security to be implemented. The “firewall” would provide facilities to ensure that external Internet users could not access computerised information systems intended for internal use within individual Departments and offices. Because of the resources which would be required to keep the necessary security measures up-to-date, the study recommends that the firewalling service be provided by a specialist service provider in this area.
The study findings and recommendations are currently being considered with a view to an early decision being taken on providing access to the Internet. The costs of providing access to Internet services, however, are likely to be significant, with set-up costs of the order of £100,000. Running costs, which at this stage cannot be quantified, are also likely to be significant and would comprise both access charges payable to an Internet service provider and firewall service charges.
