Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017
145. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the investment in her Department’s website since 2011 including total associated costs incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46019/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2011 my Department has engaged in a two-phase project to replace the Department’s previous corporate website. This project was initiated after the Department identified a number of issues with the previous website, including:
- Its structure was functional rather than customer focused
- It did not convey the breadth of the Department’s activities
- It had no means of engaging with customers or of using social media
- It was not mobile friendly
- It was visually unappealing
- It was based on older technologies which had not been changed in a number of years and was difficult to maintain
Those issues impeded the Department in an important aspect of its function, that of acting as an advocate for policies and actions which promote growth in jobs, enterprise and innovation throughout the economy.
The project resulted in the launch of the current website which is used to promote the key themes of the Department’s strategy, through the use of a modern and user-friendly website aimed at promoting the Department’s mission. The website includes customer focused information on the services and supports offered by my Department including key areas such as the Action Plan for Jobs, employment permits, financial supports for business, company law and intellectual property. The website also promotes the Department’s strategy through the use of modern social media tools such as aggregated news, photo, video and twitter content from the Department and its Agencies. It also provides direct links to the Online Employment Permits application system, the Agencies and Offices of the Department, and to other key Government services including resources on supports for SMEs and information on Brexit preparations.
The total cost of developing, improving and maintaining the website since 2011 is €250,655.
