Online education 40% cheaper than classroom learning - eGovernment key to major cost cuts in delivering services to citizens

Ireland's eGovernment Award winner - South Dublin County Council - Digital Book Service

Online TV licence service public's favourite service

19 February 2009: Delivering education online can be up to 40% cheaper than educating people in a classroom demonstrating again the truly significant savings that can be made by driving more and more government services online, according to Maeve Kneafsey, MD of online strategy and marketing company, Elucidate which co-hosts Ireland's eGovernment Awards along with the Public Sector Times newspaper.

Ms. Kneafsey added, "eGovernment, which includes eLearning, really comes into its own during a time when budgets are tight as it can mean a dramatic cut in the cost of delivering services to the citizen. It can also play a significant role in speeding up our transformation to a knowledge economy.

However, it does also mean governments have to do four things. Users must be able to start and finish a task online, to be truly a self-service alternative. They must provide help to enable those not comfortable with using online services to use the services and they must also provide access to those online services to those who do not have computers or access to the Internet. Finally they have to promote those services so that citizens know what is available and the benefits, so they can start to use them.

Ms. Kneafsey, who was commenting at the announcement today of the winners of Ireland's eGovernment Awards 2009, added, "Online education is just one example of what can be done now with tremendous and immediate effect, not just in the massive savings it could mean for training organisations like FAS but also it means that the numbers who have easier access to that training are dramatically increased as it doesn't matter where in the country you are and there's no limit to the ‘classroom' size, all that is needed is access to a PC and of course there the need to build any infrastructure is dramatically reduced. Cisco Systems, the giant US corporation that has 66,000 employees and sales of $35 billion, saved $142 million in just one year through their use of eLearning for their employees.

"Today's winners show how far eGovernment has come and the tremendous ability it has to deliver vital cost savings and efficiencies within the wider public service across the island. The range of online services is growing every year and includes the less known services such as the online livestock mart service from the Dept of Agriculture that has replaced a slow cumbersome system with a live web recording of animal movements. This prevents the sale of animals that have not been registered with the Department or from herds that do not comply with veterinary/disease test requirements. The speed and responsiveness allowed by this web enabled service to the Department is critical in helping prevent problems that might impact on the agriculture sector and its reputation outside and inside Ireland.

The overall winner, South Dublin County Council - Digital Book Service, also provides a online service whereby you can sign up to the library service and download audio books as well as reserve books online, providing direct access to the world of books to those with visual or literacy problems from their own home or office. The planning and negotiation needed by those running this project, to secure the rights to provide audio books is both innovative and visionary.

For the first time this year the public have voted for the most popular online government service, and the winner this year, the online TV licence service, illustrates the publics appreciate of the self-service model when it interacts with government "

Commenting on the awards, Cathal Magee, Managing Director eircom Retail said, "The quality of entries this year has been truly remarkable and I would like to congratulate all of the 2009 award winners".

"eircom is proud of its association with Ireland's eGovernment awards which recognise excellence and innovation in Irish eGovernment services. We look forward to the continued development of, and investment in improved eGovernment services for the future" he continued.

View the 2009 Winners here

View the 2009 Shortlist here

About Ireland's eGovernment Awards in association with eircom
Ireland's eGovernment Awards in association with eircom, jointly run by the Public Sector Times newspaper and web usage and web strategy experts Elucidate, are now in their eighth year. They are the recognised benchmark for excellence in Irish eGovernment services and standards. The Awards raise awareness and recognise the innovators, developers, forward thinkers and experts who are pioneering the changes happening in how the Irish Government delivers services to its citizens.

For further information, please visit www.irishegovernmentawards.ie

Maeve Kneafsey                                               Conall O'Morain
Director, Ireland's eGovernment Awards     The Media Group
01 400 4250                                                       087 246 3111
maeve@elucidate.ie                                        comorain@tmgroup.org

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