Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

233. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether the use of cloud computing services is important in helping the Government digitalise and improve public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33733/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for this question and can confirm that yes, the use of cloud computing continues to be a key and growing platform supporting the delivery of innovative, modern digital public services.

Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT Strategy for Ireland’s Public Service, published in 2022, specifically notes that public service organisations will be more proactive and progressive in embracing cloud and will take a cloud-first approach to delivery of services. This is in line with the earlier Cloud Computing Advice Note, published in October 2019, which provided high-level guidance to assist organisations in making decisions in relation to the adoption of cloud services. In all cases, a move to cloud will be a business decision on the basis of specific considerations made by individual public service organisations.

In December 2021, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) issued a Cloud Services Procurement Guidance Note to assist public sector organisations to understand and manage the key contractual and commercial considerations when procuring cloud computing services.. The OGP also plans to establish a central arrangement for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) by the end of 2023.

Of course, a cloud-first approach does not mean cloud-only. Consequently, organisations should and will take a range of considerations into account such as the risk profile of the data, where it resides, and other such issues, which may determine that use of private government cloud is most appropriate for particular circumstances.