I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, 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 the benefits of the information society are availed of by Irish citizens and businesses. That is reflected in the Government's Action Plan on the Information Society published earlier this year and 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 level and by a four person team. This latter group, the Information Society Policy Development Team, works closely with CMOD in the Department of Finance and liaises as appropriate with expertise elsewhere in the civil and public services.
The team, the full complement of which has been in place only 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 this year, and prepared draft guidelines for Government websites to be issued this month, following consultation with Departments. The current main focus is on assessing resource requirements for action plan projects.
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 this year subject to the assessment process. 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 in the Official Report a full list of the projects to which this funding relates.
This funding will be managed by the Department of Finance, not by the Information Society Commission. The Information Society Commission, like other Departments and agencies, will be allocated funding in respect of particular initiatives for which it is responsible under the action plan.
This funding relates only to anticipated expenditure on the projects in question to the end of 1999. Projects in question must be assessed and approved by an evaluation team, which includes representation from the Department of Finance and my Department. The evaluation process is under way at present. In approving funding for 1999, the Government also agreed in principle to further substantial expenditure on information society projects in the coming years. The amount of expenditure required is currently being assessed with a view to determining requirements for the Estimates in 2000.
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, NCTE. This year the Information Society Commission has teamed up with the NCTE to expand on the activities of previous years by involving not only 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 to involve the broader community in the initiative.
The Information Society Commission will also launch a millennium project, e-wish 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 a broadcast sponsor.
Schedule of Resources of Projects* Commencing in 1999
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Department
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Project
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Spending in 1999
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£
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Euro
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Agriculture Food and Rural Development
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Preliminary work on e-commerce Projects
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50,000
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63,487
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Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Installation of websites
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80,000
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101,579
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Central Statistics Office
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Access to statistics databases via Internet
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80,000
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101,579
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Education and Science
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Secure Intranet for Education Sector
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150,000
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190,461
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Rapid application of Education Technology Investment Fund and Schools IT 2000
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70,000
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88,882
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Education & Training On-Line Project
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600,000
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761,843
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Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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Department Interface Projects-Business database
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174,000
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220,934
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Accelerate e-commerce activity among SMEs
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200,000
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253,948
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Information Society Services Section
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50,000
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63,487
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Environment and Local Government
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Electronic Local Government
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250,000
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317,435
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Provision of Internet Access in Libraries
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1,000,000
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1,269,738
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Health and Children
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National Client Eligibility Index
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750,000
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952,304
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Health and Children/Social Community and Family Affairs
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GRO Initiative
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70,000
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88,882
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Department
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Project
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Spending in 1999
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£
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Euro
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Justice, Equality and Law Reform
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Measures to alleviate the illegal and harmful use of the Internet
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30,000
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38,092
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Electronic evidence in Courts – investigate scope for early enactment of legislation
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30,000
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38,092
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Land Registry
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ICT based delivery of services. Preliminary work on electronic payments
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30,000
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38,092
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Office of Public Works
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Preliminary work on e-commerce projects
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60,000
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76,184
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Public Enterprise
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International Connectivity Project
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500,000
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634,869
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Broadband Projects
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1,500,000
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1,904,607
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North-South Digital Corridor
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50,000
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63,487
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Electronic Signatures & Certification
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50,000
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63,487
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Market Observatory
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50,000
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63,487
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Sub Marine Licensing
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50,000
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63,487
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Infrastructure and Regulatory Legislation
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50,000
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63,487
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Electronic Services from DPE, including website development
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50,000
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63,487
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Research
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100,000
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126,974
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Associated staffing costs (including Telecoms attachés)
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250,000
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317,435
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Revenue
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Electronic filing of tax returns
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250,000
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317,435
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Social, Community and Family Affairs
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REACH InitiativeCitizens database
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100,000200,000
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126,974253,948
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Taoiseach(including Information Society Commission)
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Secure intranet for Government Secretariat
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50,000
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63,487
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E-mail for all
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500,000
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634,869
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Information Society Policy Implementation Team
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90,000
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114,276
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Netd@ys
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150,000
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190,461
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Total
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7,664,000
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9,731,273
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*The full implementation of many of these projects will require substantial funding in future years.
The Web Address for the Department of the Taoiseach is:– www.irlgov.ie/taoiseach
Publications, including:– *Implementing the Information Society in Ireland: An Action Plan, and Progress Implementing the Information Society – Second Report of the Interdepartmental Implementation Group can be downloaded from the site.
Indicative List of Projects for Consideration for funding in 2000
Department
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Project
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Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
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Feasibility and implementation of projects to provide departmental services electronicallyProvision of Internal E-Mail and Intranet
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Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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On line sales system for heritage sites and cultural institutions
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Interactive schools programme for heritage sites
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Gaeltacht client database
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Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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Electronic filing of annual returns by insurance companies
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Department
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Project
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Filing of returns by credit unions electronically
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Redundancy and insolvency payments project
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Environment and Local Government
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Planning details available electronically
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System to enhance electronic democracy
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Pilot project on alternate approach to broadband communications facilities to the citizen.
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Finance, Local Government and Health Agencies
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Public procurement Information Delivered Electronically
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Department
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Project
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Foreign Affairs
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Information Database Provision of information to citizens and businesses abroad.Consular service project-secure intranet to incorporate facilities to enable digitised/electronic processing of passports and visas.
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Health and Children
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Pharmacist pilot project for submission of GMS claims electronicallyProject involving issue of smart cards to individuals to determine limits in relation to pharmacy costs
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Office of Public Works
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Development of web enabled property management service
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Interactive marketing of Dublin Castle Conference Centre
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Availability of statistical data electronically pertaining to drainage and flood relief schemes
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Public Enterprise
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Communications Infrastructure Group-Establish industry communications infrastructure group
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Draft legislation on telecommunications infrastructure installation/access
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Revenue
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Phased release of further elements of ROS and other electronic services. Further promotion of Irish position in international developments in e-commerce.
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Social, Community and Family Affairs
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Further development of electronic access to public services.
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Taoiseach (including Information Society Commission)
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An examination of the issues involved in the development of fully integrated public services
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