Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply but I would like to go a step further by requiring every agency of State to introduce procedures to manage paper applications and processing. While it is commendable that his Department is endeavouring to reduce volumes of paper, it will continue to be necessary to maintain a paper-based system. In regard to the example I gave earlier, people were encouraged to submit the local property tax online but the Revenue Commissioners were none the less required to spend €500,000 to put in place a paper-based system to facilitate those who are not technology literate or who do not have access to the Internet. We could abolish paper-based systems across the board if we used the local sub-post office network. The post office information technology system is the same in Cahirciveen and on O'Connell Street in Dublin. By utilising that network we could make significant savings across the public service.

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