Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 December 2013
31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate in tabular form any expenditure by his Department since January 2012 on the Department's website; the expenditure since January 2012 on any other websites related to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53243/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently invested in upgrading our online services to the public for the first time since 2005. This essential upgrade of our ICT infrastructure allows my Department to support Irish citizens at home and abroad through a suite of bespoke services including the Passport Tracking Service and a Passport Application Guide. In addition, the Citizen Registration service allows Irish citizens travelling or living overseas to register their contact details with our Department. This service means we can contact citizens who are travelling abroad and provide assistance where possible in the event of an unforeseen crisis such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or a family emergency. The website also has a database of international legal treaties to which Ireland is a signatory.
The Irish Aid website provides information on Ireland's overseas development programme and volunteering opportunities.
The contract to build the Department's websites encompasses a range of activities including website design and development, a Content Management System, annual support, licensing and training.
The Emigrant Support Programme's website is an on-line grant system for organisations which provide support for Irish communities abroad. The Global Irish Forum website provides information on the Global Irish Network and the Global Irish Economic Forum. During the Forum in October many of the sessions were live-streamed around the world.
The following table provides a breakdown of website expenditure in 2012 and 2013.
|
Website Costs |
2012 € |
2013 € |
|
Development of Department's websites –Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including four custom built applications); Irish Aid and template for Embassy sites |
222,231 |
63,261 |
|
DFAT and Embassy web domain renewals |
4,130 |
5,167 |
|
Hosting Costs DFAT, Irish Aid & Embassy sites |
38,250 |
42,957 |
|
Support and Maintenance D/FAT, Irish Aid and Embassy Sites |
52,350 |
15,011 |
|
Emigrant Support Programme Grants |
2,545 |
829 |
|
Global Irish Forum Website |
121 |
3,189 |
|
Certificate of Irish Heritage Domain renewal |
48 |
298 |
|
Total |
€319,675 |
€130,712 |
