Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 4

Written Answers. - Local Authority Information Technology.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

227 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, his Department is taking to fund technology for public representatives at local authority level; the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure services offered by local authorities are delivered to the general public by the use of information technology; the investment made for each of the past three years to achieve e-local government; the funds being made available in 2000; and if he will make a statement on his policy in this area. [10045/00]

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

The provision of technology for local authority public representatives is generally a matter for each local authority, and thus my Department is not providing direct funding for this purpose.

There are a number of initiatives at an early stage of development to maximise the use of information technology in the delivery of local authority services. In conjunction with local authorities, and with the Local Government Computer Services Board, my Department is working with the Departments of Finance and Taoiseach's on central funding for pilot projects. Two specific projects are: a pilot project on e-planning, being led by Kildare County Council, and a pilot project on e-procurement, being led by Kerry County Council. In addition, an office automation project involving the development and use of intranets in three local authorities is currently under evaluation; this project may potentially include the provision of appropriate information systems to councillors. While approval in principle has been agreed for the funding of these projects, the precise amount of funding has yet to be finalised.

To underpin the efficiency-effectiveness agenda for local authorities, the local government fund is meeting the bulk of the capital costs for the implementation of their new financial management systems. These will provide a sound basis for improved business management generally, and will utilise the latest technologies. In addition, I am considering the use of local government fund moneys to actively encourage local authorities to undertake specific projects in the provision of improved services through innovative and new approaches to delivering quality services. This would obviously include the use of technology.

My Department, in collaboration with local authorities, is working with other Government Departments on general strategic management initiative developments in the information and communications technology area, to ensure that local government plays its part in delivering services to its customers in an integrated and effective way. A sectoral policy document on the use of ICT in local government is being finalised at present, as a joint departmental and LGCSB initiative, and I hope to be in a position to publish the policy in the next number of weeks.