Vol. 533 No. 6
2 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the progress which has been made with regard to the implementation of the Government decision of May 2000 requiring Departments and Offices to develop their strategy for the development of e-public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8727/01]
Following the Government's decision of May 2000, Departments submitted preliminary strategy statements for the electronic delivery of public services for which they are responsible. Following consideration of these, my Department has embarked on the next phase which involves using external facilitators to work with Departments in refining and prioritising their departmental strategies. The objective is to produce a composite strategy by the summer for the delivery, in the next 12 to 18 months, of public services electronically. At the same time, the Reach Agency is looking at how delivery of these services can be integrated. On completion of the composite strategy it is my intention to have it published as soon as possible.
Does the Taoiseach have any information on provision for the electronic processing of planning applications? Does he accept that, because of a combination of substantial increases in the volume of applications in the past number of years and a crisis in staffing levels, the public is being poorly served by the current system, particularly those who want to see what is actually being proposed, and that one way to modern ise the system would be to conduct the entire planning application process electronically?
Although it does not form part of the remit of my Department, that is one of the issues being considered. Two more phases of the Revenue on-line process will be initiated this year encompassing the motor tax and planning applications areas. Those three areas are being looked at. I would be misleading the Deputy if I said that it was being done everywhere, but it is, certainly, being done in a number of local authorities.
