Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2019
1026. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the development and implementation of the MyGovID online system; the annual maintenance cost of same; the number of MyGov accounts created to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44494/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMyGovID is a secure online identity verification service that my Department carries out on behalf of bodies providing public services online. It allows individuals to access a range of government services more easily via a single online account and reduces the need to have multiple accounts and passwords with different public sector bodies.
The Government’s eGovernment Strategy, published in 2017, states that the widespread adoption of the Public Services Card infrastructure, including its online counterpart MyGovID, to underpin access to public services by citizens is critical to the successful delivery of the eGovernment strategy. MyGovID is also essential for Ireland to be aligned with the EU eIDAS regulation, which is a key aspect of the EU’s eGovernment Action Plan and Digital Single Market Strategy.
I am advised that here are currently 1,231,409 MyGovID users.
The cost to date of IT infrastructure and support to develop, implement and maintain the MyGovID system since its introduction in 2014 is approx. €8.1m, excluding VAT. It is expected that the maintenance costs for 2020 will be in the region of €1.3m, excluding VAT, which includes provision for service improvements and production support.
MyGovID is a valuable service which forms the central plank of the Government's eGovernment Strategy and provides access to online services from my own Department, Revenue MyAccount services, Driver Licence and Learner Permit renewals and Student Grant applications. I am pleased to note that MyGovID won both the Overall and General Award categories at the recent Ireland eGovernment awards in September 2019.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
