Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the projected cost of the Government Information Service for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29187/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the number of staff assigned to the Communications Unit in his Department; the total cost of this unit for the first half of 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29188/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the total projected costs to date in 2010 of the Communications Unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30226/10]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the total cost of the development and maintenance of the www.merrionst.ie website; the intended purpose of the website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32322/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the projected cost to his Department of the www.merrionstreet.ie website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32323/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the costs which have accrued to his Department in relation to the creation and development of the merrionstreet.ie website; the projected annual running cost of this project; the number of staff assigned to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34662/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

There are four staff assigned to the communications unit, two executive officers, one staff officer and one clerical officer. The projected cost to date of the unit for 2010 is €181,701, with €84,156 being a direct cost to my Department and the balance being paid by three other Departments from which staff have been seconded to the unit. These costs represent a reduction of 6% on the 2009 cost, 20% on the 2008 cost and 27% on the 2007 cost. This has been achieved through greater efficiency in the operations of the unit and the application of Government policy on reducing staff numbers.

The GIS comprises the Government Information Service, the Government Press Office, the communications unit and the Government website team. The projected cost for the GIS in 2010 is €1,308,100 which represents a reduction of 12% on the 2009 cost. The Government Press Office and the Government Information Service provides, on behalf of myself, my Department and the Government an information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media and promotes a co-ordinated approach to media matters across Departments. The Government Press Office issues press releases to the media, briefs political correspondents, organises photocalls, information campaigns and ministerial representation on current affairs programmes. It also disseminates information to the domestic and international media on the web and via e-mail. Staff in the Government Press Office are available after hours and at weekends to answer media queries.

The cost of designing and developing the website was €18,150. Implementation, support and independent security testing cost a further €3,116. Computer hardware and software cost €6,284 and audio-video equipment cost €6,785, bringing the total cost to €34,335. The site is being hosted by the Local Government Computer Services Board and the annual hosting cost is expected to be in the region of €4,000. Apart from these costs, the project was developed using existing in-house resources in the Department. Ongoing technical maintenance and support is being provided by staff in my Department's IT unit with support from an external web services company on an "as needs" basis. The team that maintains and updates the site content is also drawn from existing departmental resources, with the exception of two temporary staff - journalism graduates - requiring relevant work experience who were recruited at clerical officer level. There is no net additional cost as these posts have been funded from a reallocation of the overall staff budget, which has fallen by 11% since 2008 and is likely to be further reduced in the 2011 estimates.

It is clear that the manner in which information is transmitted through the Internet is changing. It is important that the Government's ability to provide information via the web reflects this change. The website, www.MerrionStreet.ie was developed following a study of best practice by more than 20 other Governments. It provides citizens with a single on-line location where the activity of Government can be viewed. The latest press releases from all Departments are available on the site, which over time will become a valuable archive of Government information. Its main purpose is to make the work of Government more accessible to citizens by reporting Government news in a user-friendly manner, using audio-visual tools and Internet capabilities, including YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his reply and would like to raise with him a couple of questions in regard to the final portion of it. I understand that the new website, www.MerrionStreet.ie, which went live in July, cost approximately €40,000 to set up and was inspired by the www.Number-10.gov.uk website. I also understand that the dedicated website, www.taoiseach.gov.ie, which is already in existence could have been redesigned to provide the information contained on the www.MerrionStreet.ie website. Were tenders sought in respect of the work carried out on the latter and, if so, how many were received? What analysis was carried out in respect of the need for this website? Would it have been possible to redesign the www.taoiseach.gov.ie website to allow it to include the user-friendly, on-line information for citizens to which the Taoiseach referred? The interview the Taoiseach gave to his Government's deputy press secretary on the EU-Asia summit was placed on this website. Was this to avoid the media in general or was it for the purpose of utilising the website? Is it his intention to use this site more regularly in this way?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The www.MerrionStreet.ie website relates to the totality of Government activity and not simply that relating to the Department of the Taoiseach. The website was specifically developed for this purpose. As stated earlier, we must use all the modern Internet tools that are available in order to ensure that information is provided by the Government in a user-friendly way. I am of the opinion that the cost involved is well justified, particularly in the context of the service that is being provided. A tender was not required in respect of this matter because the work was carried out through the use of in-house resources. That work involved an examination of best practice across a range of 20 other government's websites and not just one.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I had understood that the cost-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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On the question of information, we meet members of the media directly and I did not realise that one cannot use a Government website to disseminate information. Regardless of whether it is the media or a website, one can use these channels in whatever way one wishes.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To get the message out. The website in question makes provision for web chats with Ministers and the publication of thought-provoking e-mails and letters from members of the public. There are some who use other methods to publicise thought-provoking messages. The website has not yet been used to any great degree for the purpose to which I refer. Is it the Taoiseach's intention to ensure that more of these thought-provoking e-mails will be published and more web chats with Ministers will take place on the website?

At this time last year, the Taoiseach decided to explore the appointing of a single provider of information across all Government Departments as part of a package of cost-cutting measures. However, nothing was done about this. I understand that when a formal tendering process was entered into, the bids received were in excess of the cost relating to the provision of the current service. Will the Taoiseach verify whether this is the case? In other words, will he indicate whether, when he followed through on his intention to appoint a single information provider, the tenders received in excess of the current cost of providing information? I understand that the tender process was carried two years ago. In light of the changed economic circumstances, it might perhaps be worthwhile seeking new tenders because, as has proven to be the case in other sectors, the bids received might be much better value than those previously submitted.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will have to check with those who deal with the service in order to answer the Deputy's first question. A suggestion was made in this House, on foot of a question which was probably tabled by the Deputy, that we might consider appointing a single information provider. I examined the matter and provided a detailed reply to the relevant question confirming the position in this regard.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The projected cost of the Government Information Service for 2010 is €242,269. This reflects a 6% reduction on the cost in 2009. In light of the fact that there is absolute urgency with regard to reducing costs to a minimum while retaining effective services, is it the Taoiseach's view that this is the bottom line regarding what can be achieved in the context of cutting the costs relating to the Government Information Service? Given the constraints and pressures now being felt, in this no more than any other area there must be a radical examination of what can be done. Is that the bottom line in terms of the GIS?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Every area of expenditure is looked at in the context of Estimates and what is available for the following year. As I said, this area has contributed to a reduction of 27% since I came to office.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have been listening to the Taoiseach's replies to Deputy Kenny and I am still not clear why it was necessary to set up a new website, given that the Government already has the www.gov.ie and the www.irisoifigiuil.ie websites for official purposes. There are also separate departmental websites for each Department and a citizens' information website. What was intended to be provided on this website that could not be made available on existing sites?

I note that there was a visit by a delegation from the Chinese Government recently but the Taoiseach did not do any media interviews following the visit. Instead, he chose to be interviewed by an officer of the Government information services for the www.merrionstreet.ie website, with the interview posted on the site. Is it intended to use that website more frequently for interviews where Ministers or the Taoiseach will be interviewed by officers of the Government information services? This would be as opposed to doing direct interviews with the public media.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do interviews with the media all the time on any subject and where any issue can be raised. This medium of the Internet was used to set out the work of the day, what took place at meeting and its relevance to the Irish public. As I understand it, I am not obliged to pick and choose what media I deal with. I deal with them all, including the Internet. There is no more to it than that and if I get the opportunity to use this Internet medium to bring to public attention what it is the Government is doing and what is happening in the course of my job, I do not see a problem with it. One of the great criticisms from the Opposition is a perceived dearth of information and that we need to get more information out there. It seems that when there is more information out there, the Opposition has a problem with that as well.

It would be intended to use that medium in addition to all other media to ensure that people are made aware of particular Government activities etc. The purpose of the new website is that of a service to citizens who wish to get a clearer view of the work of Government. Each Department has a responsibility to communicate its actions and policies and all Departments have websites as part of the process. By and large, the websites of Departments are text-based and the new website is capable of far greater integration of audio-visual material and with its links to social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, it allows for the sharing of information between citizens.

All Departments communicate their press releases to www.merrionstreet.ie . It is the job of the site to add an audio-visual dimension to the key information and make it available for distribution on more modern Internet channels. All Government press releases should be visible on the site by means of really simple syndication, RSS, feeds. The site's editorial team is tasked with communicating information on Government policy and action in a format more suited to modern Internet methods. Its role is to report the work of Departments, Ministers and the Taoiseach in a factual manner, which is what it does.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach indicated the purpose of the website is to provide more information to citizens. Why would a citizen looking for Government information do a Google search for www.merrionstreet.ie? Where did the name come from and what was the idea behind it? If a citizen wants to find out what the Government is doing and does not know which site to visit, I would think that person would look for the Government website and be directed to it. The Taoiseach will appreciate there is a distinction between information and propaganda. This is a propaganda site.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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What is the Deputy's basis for this claim?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I looked at the website.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That covers it so.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I thought I was on the Fianna Fáil website. There is no difference between what is on that site and what one gets on Government party sites. It has various press releases, interviews and so on. It is not an information site but a form of propaganda, that is to communicate good news from the Government. That is fair enough and I am not objecting to that. However, there were already information sites in place. This site was set up to propagandise for the Government. It would have been more appropriate to leave that to the political parties in government.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gilmore makes the charge of propaganda but does not give an example. That is an interesting way of making political assertions. The website has been well commented on by media sources, both international and national, as a good source of information. Most websites of this nature are text-based while this one introduces an audio-visual element to make it more user-friendly. No one seems to have a problem with it except Deputy Gilmore.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is a bit surly today. I was smiling when-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It has to be propaganda because Deputy Gilmore says so.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy Gilmore made mention of Iris Oifigiúil-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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If Deputy Gilmore says it, it must be true then.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I had to push the Taoiseach a bit.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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It is not a neutral website anyway.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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-----and other opportunities the Government has. It needs none of them when it has Independent News and Media working to present it in the best light it can.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gilmore would know more about propaganda himself. He is harking back to the old days of political instruction down in a little cottage in County Meath over a weekend.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Bring them on.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To cite an example from www.MerrionStreet.ie - can I have the Taoiseach's attention?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise. Deputy Gilmore's crowd was more interesting than Deputy Ó Caoláin's. While Deputy Ó Caoláin's just took it all in, Deputy Gilmore's boys had to be trained. The old Stickies' days.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That is okay. We will read about it in The Irish Independent tomorrow.

The website in question is an effort on the Government's part to contrive some sort of a good news website and to put it in the best light possible. I was interested by an article on the site titled, Health Innovation - Tubridy Cuts Out the Waste. This Tubridy was not the Taoiseach's broadcasting friend but a consultant neurologist at St. Vincent's who claimed he cut waiting lists by 25% by the use of the HealthLink on-line service. While that is fine for the hospital in question, it only gives false hope to many other people because the service in question is not commonly used across the country. The critical story is not that this particular consultant has been able to reduce his waiting times by 25% for initial consultations; the real story is how many have to wait for them elsewhere.

It is questionable whether www.MerrionStreet.ie was required at all. While it probably will not take an enormous amount to maintain, I am more concerned about the promise made some time ago to secondary schools that IT equipment would be provided for every classroom. Some 15 months later, nothing has been provided.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is going off on a tangent.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This IT roll-out project is far more important and beneficial to a raft of young people preparing for the severe challenges that will face them when they leave school than the MerrionStreet.ie website.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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On the matter to which the Deputy referred, as I said it is the use of technology for the purposes of dealing with people who have been waiting for services which has eliminated 25% of the cost. It made a lot of difference to the people who got in much quicker as a result. I do not see why-----

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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For the lucky ones.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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If other consultants took up the same practice, maybe they would reduce their fees by 25%. Bringing that to public attention is a good thing but it seems that the premise of the Deputy's questions is that the Government's entitlement to bring it to public attention should in some way-----

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Government could do it differently. I have brought it to public attention a lot more effectively than www.MerrionStreet.ie by mentioning it here in the House-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I doubt it, Deputy, unfortunately.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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-----which, with respect, if the colleagues in the press reported it, would do the business.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise, Deputy. I do not think the number of hits on the Deputy's website-----

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That was open to the Taoiseach.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, can we have the Taoiseach without interruption please?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think the number of hits on the Deputy's website is quite as high.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, we need to move on.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We are talking about hits, I suppose. The issue I am trying to get across is that these are good examples of good practice in the health services which need to be, and are being, brought to the attention of the public by whatever means necessary. I find it amazing that people would regard that sort of information as something in which the public are not interested. They are very interested in it because it will help them or a relative or member of the family to whom it would be germane at some stage.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What about secondary school children?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy tabled a question to the Department of Education and Skills, he would get a full up-to-date response on what the ICT strategy is in terms of providing for public schools.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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There is no up-to-date information.