Vol. 508 No. 1
63 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the projects to be supported by the additional £7.7 million allocated to the Information Society Development Fund in July 1999; the amount expended since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17401/99]
64 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of people who will be working on the Information Society Policy Development Team; the work programme of the team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17404/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
The information society represents enormous opportunities and challenges for Ireland. The Government is keenly aware of the importance of ensuring that Ireland takes full advantage of modern information and communications technologies, or ICTs, both in the fields of e-commerce and e-government. We need to respond quickly to make sure that the benefits of the information society are availed of by Irish citizens and Irish businesses. That is reflected in the Government's Action Plan on the Information Society – published earlier this year and also accessible on my Department's website.
In accordance with the recommendations of the action plan, implementation is monitored and guided by an interdepartmental group with representation at Assistant Secretary General level and a four person team – the Information Society Policy Development team, which works closely with CMOD in the Department of Finance and liaises as appropriate with other expertise elsewhere in the civil and public service.
The team, the full complement of which has only been in place since summer, has produced a progress report on the action plan; worked with Departments to identify resource requirements for action plan projects for the remainder of 1999; and prepared draft guidelines for Government websites – to be issued next month, following consultation with Departments. The current main focus is on assessing resource requirements for action plan projects for next year and beyond.
In July, the Government agreed to the interim allocation of approximately £7.7 million for projects arising under the action plan for the remainder of 1999. These include projects to provide internet access to the public through the local library network, electronic filing of tax returns, and "Netd@ys", an Information Society Commission initiative to promote Internet awareness. I am circulating a full list of the projects to which this funding relates.
|
Department |
Project |
Spending in 1999 |
£ |
|
|
Agriculture and Food |
Preliminary work on e-commerce Projects |
50,000 |
63,487 |
|
|
Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands |
Installation of websites |
80,000 |
101,579 |
|
|
Central Statistics Office |
Access to statistics databases via Internet |
80,000 |
101,579 |
|
|
Education and Science |
Secure Intranet for Education Sector |
150,000 |
190,461 |
|
|
Rapid application of Education Technology Investment Fund and Schools IT 2000 |
70,000 |
88,882 |
||
|
Education and Training On-line Project |
600,000 |
761,843 |
||
|
Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Department Interface Projects-Business database |
174,000 |
220,934 |
|
|
Accelerate e-commerce activity among SMEs |
200,000 |
253,948 |
||
|
Information Society Services Section |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Environmental and Local Government |
Electronic Local Government |
250,000 |
317,435 |
|
|
Provision of Internet Access in Libraries |
1,000,000 |
1,269,738 |
||
|
Health and Children |
National Client Eligibility Index |
750,000 |
952,304 |
|
|
Health and Children Social community and Family Affairs |
GRO Initiative |
70,000 |
88,882 |
|
|
Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
Measures to alleviate the illegal and harmful use of the Internet |
30,000 |
38,092 |
|
|
Electronic evidence in Courts – investigate scope for early enactment of legislation |
30,000 |
38,092 |
||
|
Land Registry |
ICT based delivery of services. Preliminary work on electronic payments |
30,000 |
38,092 |
|
|
Office of Public Works |
Preliminary work on e-commerce projects |
60,000 |
76,184 |
|
|
Public Enterprise |
International Connectivity Project |
500,000 |
634,869 |
|
|
Broadband Projects |
1,500,000 |
1,904,607 |
||
|
North-South Digital Corridor |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Electronic Signatures & Certification |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Market Observatory |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Sub Marine Licensing |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Infrastructure and Regulatory Legislation |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Electronic Services from DPE, including website development |
50,000 |
63,487 |
||
|
Research |
100,000 |
126,974 |
||
|
Associated staffing costs (including Telecoms attachés) |
250,000 |
317,435 |
||
|
Revenue |
Electronic filing of tax returns |
250,000 |
317,435 |
|
|
Social, Community and Family Affairs |
REACH Initiative |
100,000 |
126,974 |
|
|
Citizens database |
200,000 |
253,948 |
||
|
Taoiseach (including Information Society Commission) |
Secure intranet for Government Secretariat |
50,000 |
63,487 |
|
|
E-mail for all |
500,000 |
634,869 |
||
|
Information Society Policy Implementation Team |
90,000 |
114,276 |
||
|
Netdays |
150,000 |
190,461 |
||
|
Total |
7,664,000 |
9,731,273 |
|
Department |
Project |
|
Agriculture and Food |
Feasibility and implementation of projects to provide Departmental services electronicallyProvision of Internal E-Mail and Intranet |
|
Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands |
On line sales system for heritage sites and cultural institutionsInteractive schools programme for heritage sitesGaeltacht client database |
|
Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Electronic filing of annual returns by insurance companiesFiling of returns by credit unions electronicallyRedundancy and insolvency payments project |
|
Environment and Local Government |
Planning details available electronicallySystem to enhance electronic democracyPilot project on alternate approach to broadband communications facilities to the citizen |
|
Finance, Local Government and Health Agencies |
Public Procurement Information Delivered Electronically |
|
Foreign Affairs |
Information Database-Provision of information to citizens and businesses abroadConsular service project-secure intranet to incorporate facilities to enable digitised/electronic processing of passports and visas |
|
Health and Children |
Pharmacist pilot project for submission of GMS claims electronicallyProject involving issue of smart cards to individuals to determine limits in relation to pharmacy costs |
|
Office of Public Works |
Development of web enabled property management serviceInteractive marketing of Dublin Castle Conference CentreAvailability of statistical data electronically pertaining to drainage and flood relief schemes |
|
Public Enterprise |
Communications Infrastructure Group-Establish industry communications infrastructure groupDraft legislation on telecommunications infrastructure installation/access |
|
Department |
Project |
|
Revenue |
Phased release of further elements of ROS and other electronic services. Further promotion of Irish position in international developments in e-commerce |
|
Social, Community and Family Affairs |
Further development of electronic access to public services |
|
Taoiseach(including Information Society Commission) |
An examination of the issues involved in the development of fully integrated public services |
65 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of the events to be supported by the Information Society Commission during the Netd@ys initiative in November 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17402/99]
Netd@ys is an annual, international initiative to promote the effective use of
interactive media in learning and teaching. In previous years, the initiative has been co-ordinated in schools in Ireland by the National Centre for Technology in Education. This year, the Information Society Commission has teamed up with the NCTE to expand on the activities of previous years by involving not just the schools but the community at large.
Netd@ys 1999 will run from 13 to 21 November. Schools, libraries and other commercial and voluntary organisations are being encouraged to open their doors to the public over that period so that people can access and learn about the internet The commission has also hired five mobile computer laboratories – or computer gyms, as they are known – which will be located at various places around the country to provide additional access points for the public.
Information material is being developed by the commission, in conjunction with the NCTE, to assist organisations participating in the initiative. Special information packs are also being prepared specifically for schools, which will include suggested ways of involving the broader community in the initiative.
The Information Society Commission will also launch a millennium project –"eWish for a new millennium"– to encourage people to access a special website and to record their personal wish for Ireland as we enter the new millennium. In this way, a permanent record of the wishes of the Irish people will be created and a representative selection will be published on CD and on the internet
In addition to a contribution of £150,000 by the Government towards the Netd@ys initiative, the Commission has also secured sponsorship from Eircom to help with the costs of the school packs, hiring the computer gyms and advertising, and RTE has agreed to become broadcast sponsor.
