Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if podcasts are available for download by members of the public on websites maintained by his Department and its agencies; if not, his plans to introduce podcasts as a communications tool; if so, the number of times a podcast has been downloaded to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32384/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The facility to download podcasts, or digital media files used for playback on portable media players , is not available on my Department's website or on the websites of the agencies under my remit. My Department's website is currently being redesigned and this will facilitate the development of additional services including expanding the range of formats, such as podcasts, in which information is made available.

The Combat Poverty Agency intends to introduce audio streaming on their website in 2008 and the Pensions Board is exploring the possibility of introducing podcasts at a future date. The Citizens Information Board, the Family Support Agency, the Social Welfare Tribunal, and the Pensions Ombudsman do not have plans to introduce podcasts as a communications tool at this time.