Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that he has addressed the issues with e-Government projects that were highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General earlier in 2008; the steps he has taken to ensure that lessons have been learned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43652/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the report referred to, the following measures have been taken by my Department:

Firstly, as recommended by the Reach Review, the functions of Reach and the Public Service Broker were transferred to my Department in April, following which the recommendations of the Review regarding simplification and the use of off-the-shelf software were implemented.

Secondly, early in the summer, I presented a memo to Government which set out a new approach to eGovernment, particularly focussing on those services benchmarked by the European Union, and services identified in the agreed Dáil joint motion on eGovernment of 30th April 2008. Currently, my Department is meeting with various Departments and Agencies to establish what measures can be taken in the short-term, and to agree with them how they will make progress in the medium-term. An initial report to Government will be made in February.

Finally, the Deputy will be aware of the recent Government Statement on Transforming Public Services, and the numerous clear commitments on eGovernment that were made in it.

It is clear that lessons have been learned, and that effective action is being taken to deal with any issues that have arisen.