Coveney censures record on online services for citizens

IRELAND'S PERFORMANCE in the provision of online services for its citizens was rated as poor, Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveney told the Dáil.

"The OECD, which we often use as a benchmark for Ireland, yesterday joined a long list of international bodies which have criticised our performance in this area.

"It pointed out that less than half the flagship projects, contained in the Government strategy, have been implemented in full. Ireland ranks 17th out of the EU 27 for the availability of basic Government services online."

Speaking during the debate on a Fine Gael private members' motion, calling for the increased provision of online services, Mr Coveney said that Ireland's poor performance was despite the fact that our percentage of GDP spent on public sector IT projects was high by international standards.

Research had shown that of 13 leading EU countries, only Sweden, Denmark, the UK and France spent a higher percentage than Ireland.

"So, in relative terms, we are spending a lot, but we are not getting the results. It is a familiar story regarding the big ideas coming from Government, whether it is decentralisation, the National Development Plan, the national spatial strategy, the roll-out of our telecommunications structure."

Labour spokesman on education Ruairí Quinn said that with more and more people today working long hours, and living far from their workplaces, they simply did not have time to visit often distant Government offices.

"How many Government departments or agencies have offices open on Saturdays? How many open during lunchtime? How many have telephones that will be answered after 5pm on a weekday? Virtually none."

Mr Quinn said that he could go online at any time of the day or night and manage his bank account; buy car insurance; buy just about any book or piece of music ever published; reserve a hotel room or a holiday in any country in the world; buy a plane ticket, reserve a seat and even check in for the flight.

"Yet I cannot buy a new TV licence online - only renew an existing one.

"I cannot apply online for a passport, or a driver's licence, or planning permission, or tender for Government business.

"In fact, I cannot apply for or use the vast majority of national or local government services online."

Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt said that reports by the OECD and the Comptroller and Auditor General had acknowledged the considerable successes in e-government. He added that the revenue online service would lead to an estimated annual saving of €18 million due to the work of the staff in introducing that system.

The motor tax online service would result in a saving of €924,000, and the introduction of the public jobs website would result in savings of €1.7 million.

Mr Kitt said that the introduction of e-forms in the local government computer services board would result in savings of €9 million. The system in the civil registration section of the Department of Social and Family Affairs would result in savings of €7.6 million.