Vol. 551 No. 2
150 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans for on-line services to the public, particularly in the area of passport services; and his plans for the website (details supplied) which is registered in his Department's name. [10069/02]
My Department is currently engaged in developing an information and communications technology strategy for 2002-2005. This is intended to provide the Department with the necessary infrastructure and services to enable the use of information as a strategic resource in representing Ireland internationally and to make the services of the Department more accessible to the public.
One element of the strategy involves the upgrading of the passport office system to take advantage of advances in secure document technologies and to provide a quicker and more responsive service to the public. Tenders for the design and installation of a new automated passport system have been received and are currently being evaluated and it is hoped to introduce the new system before the end of next year, 2003. The Department plans, as part of this project, to avail of the potential of the Reach project to permit greater on-line access by the public in the future, including, in time, to allow for on-line passport applications.
The Department has registered a number of passport related website addresses. Persons using these are automatically redirected to the Department's website [www.gov.ie/iveagh] which contains information about the passport service. It is envisaged that these passport related websites will be further developed in the context of the introduction of the automated passport system.
