Denis Naughten
Ceist:329 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures which his Department has yet to implement with regard to the REACH project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27352/00]
Written Answers. - Departmental Initiatives.
REACH is a cross-departmental agency which the Government has established to improve the quality of service to customers of public services, in particular by developing a framework for the integration of service delivery using electronic methods.
The new service is based on the concept of the public services broker which will offer a number of services to customers and public service agencies. The high level design of the broker will be published shortly for the information of Departments and agencies and to initiate a public consultation process.
My Department has been centrally involved in the development of the REACH project to date. My Department is responsible for the personal public services number – PPSN – which will be the common customer identifier for integrated public service delivery. It is also responsible for managing the personal data of customers which will be an essential part of the broker's operation. The next step for Departments in moving forward the REACH agenda will be the preparation by next month of electronic service delivery strategies. The programme for integrated service delivery using the public services broker will be further developed in the light of those strategies.
My Department is also undertaking a major project to transform the way in which it delivers its own services to customers, including a more integrated service that is easier and simpler to access. This new service delivery project is fully in line with the principles of the REACH initiative.
My Department is also involved with the Department of Health and Children in a project to modernise the civil registration system as a key aspect of improving and integrating public services. Good progress is being made on this pro ject and it is proposed that a public consultation document on it will be issued early in the new year.