Written Answers. - Reach Programme.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:
291
Mr. Naughten
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the current status of the Reach programme; the actions taken to date by each Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28178/00]
The Reach agency is a cross-departmental agency established by the Government to implement a programme for the electronic delivery of integrated public services to citizens. The programme involves the development of a public services broker that will act as the common gateway to public services and will provide common services such as identity validation, storing and sharing of data and a secure environment for electronic government services.
Reach and the public services broker are about providing the best possible service for customers, allowing them to conduct their dealings with the public service in the ways that best suit their needs. This will allow improvements in service through the traditional channels of contact in local offices and over the telephone as well as making services available through the new electronic channels.
The Reach programme is a major undertaking that will take a number of years to develop fully and that will involve nearly all public service agencies.
In terms of progress, Reach has conducted an intensive series of workshops and consultations with other Departments and agencies and external experts. The basic model of the public services broker has been validated and developed in greater detail. The high level design of the broker will be published shortly for the guidance of other Departments and agencies, and to initiate the public consultation process.
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.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is actively involved in preparations for the development of the broker system by helping other Departments and agencies to use the personal public services number as the common customer identifier. A publicity campaign – including the issue of a leaflet and other materials – has been staged to raise awareness of the number among members of the public and other public service agencies. Arrangements concerning the extension of the use of the PPS number have been worked out with several sectors – notably education and the General Medical Services Board.
Oasis – a pilot self-service system for personal customers – is now live on the Internet for evaluation and feedback purposes. This system is being developed by Comhairle as part of the Reach programme. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is developing a similar system – called Basis – catering for the needs of the business customer.
A timetable for the building and deployment of the authentication and core certification systems has been developed. This envisages the deployment of the live system to some agencies by the end of 2001.
The other elements of the broker will be developed and implemented on a phased basis in accordance with the Government's overall strategy and timetable which will be announced as soon as the individual Departments' and agencies' e-strategies are finalised and co-ordinated.
