Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding the new strategy for e-Government services being developed by his Department; the targets and deadlines this strategy will include; if there will be reporting obligations in respect of these deadlines and targets; the funding that will be devoted to implementing the strategy; the detailed breakdown of that funding under headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/08]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Significant progress has been made on a number of fronts, including eGovernment, since the publication of "New Connections", the last action plan for the Information Society. Work is ongoing on the development of the new Plan which will

take account of considerable developments since the last plan

provide for a new approach to technology in government

contain a number of targeted initiatives, with specific deadlines, to promote access to, create awareness of, and

encourage application and use of new technologies in society, government and business

detail the arrangements to monitor progress on the Plan.

As with previous such plans, the work is being coordinated by the Information Society Policy Unit, in the Department of the Taoiseach, who are taking inputs from other Government Departments and Offices and who will be working with the eStrategy Group of Secretaries General on the detailed provisions of the plan, prior to its presentation to Government for approval.

In relation to technology in government, the new plan will take account of the very positive impacts on public service delivery that have already been made in the many very successful projects. It will also have regard to the recommendations of the C&AG's Special Report on e-Government along with the forthcoming OECD Review of the Public Service in Ireland. The plan will also reflect the changing focus on the use of technology in government towards a more demand-led approach, based on the requirements to improve performance across all areas of the public service in service delivery and internal administration.