Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

What is the Taoiseach's Department doing to co-ordinate the production of a new e-government strategy to take advantage of the cost savings that could be achieved in health care, education, social welfare delivery, perhaps, through working with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources? More than 18 months ago, the Government agreed with the Fine Gael motion on the need for a new e-government strategy and the savings and efficiencies that could be achieved in this regard. I understand the Taoiseach's Department is co-ordinating that effort.

An assurance was given at the time that a new e-government strategy would be published two months later but this was subsequently abandoned on the basis that it was being worked on. We have seen nothing since then. An opportunity exists, in the context of being forced to make savings, to introduce new measures that can utilise technology to try to save Government money and to provide people with services in their homes which they would otherwise have to travel to avail of.

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