Government could save hundreds of millions of Euro by moving services online

Dublin, 24 October 2008: The Government could save hundreds of millions of Euro or enough to give medical cards to over a million people over 70, by moving public services online according to Maeve Kneafsey, Awards Director and MD of Elucidate, who was speaking at the launch of Ireland's eGovernment Awards in association with eircom.

According to a report released by the EU Commission Directorate for Information Society and Media , Ireland ranks 17 in online sophistication levels for our online government services. Just ahead of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey and trailing behind Italy, Denmark and Belgium.

She said, "The real savings that government could make are very simple. Why not drive more extensive services online. In the same way as Gardai were given clerical support to let the Gardai get on with the business of fighting crime. The same could happen with the public service by a determined drive to use technology and the web at every possible opportunity." She continued, "The focus should be on allowing us to tap into self-services when we need to communicate or do business with Ireland's Government. The drive would be way beyond merely providing access to information. The benchmark for Ireland's eGovernment services would be to provide full two-way interaction, and case handling between the public and government via the web."

Ireland should invest in training those most resistant to moving online. In particular retired people and other adults should be trained to be comfortable and to use online government self-services. At the recent Ireland Government eSymposium we saw how Estonia has trained over 7.5% of the population or 100,000 people in the use of online services in just 3 years. Over 72% of those trained continued to use computers and the Internet.

The purpose of Ireland's eGovernment Awards, run in association with eircom, is to highlight excellence already achieved in eGovernment services such as Bord Gáis (last year's overall winner), Southern Health and Social Services Board Northern Ireland for www.sexelearning.org.uk and Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for the www.powerofone.ie campaign. The public service has shown it has the technological ability. What it needs now is to be allowed to implement clever labour and revenue saving applications that will make it easier for the public to access services and make the public service itself far more efficient. In fact, because we want to reward those who have served the public best over the year that we have introduced the People's Choice eGovernment Award, which Ms. Kneafsey believes is the first time in the world such an award has allowed the public to vote for the public service it most appreciates!

For those who enter Ireland's eGovernment Awards, run in association with eircom, the benefits are tangible. Visibility within the public service can sometimes be hard to achieve. However, if a panel of the most eminent judges adjudge a project as winner then those who have implemented the project in the first place should be very well placed to secure further internal funds for the next set of online services. These awards encourage excellence for all by recognising the best which in turn raises the bar for everyone.

About Ireland's eGovenment Awards

Ireland’s eGovernment Awards, run in association with eircom, and jointly hosted by the Public Sector Times newspaper and web usage and content 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.

The 2008 winners were:

Overall winner 2008 Irish eGovernment Awards – Bord Gáis Energy Supply - www.bordgaisenergysupply.ie
Marketing Irish eGovernment Award – Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources – The Power of One campaign - www.powerofone.ie 
e Health Sector Irish eGovernment Award – Southern Health and Social Services Board Northern Ireland - www.sexelearning.org.uk
e Accessible Irish eGovernment Award – Cork City Council - www.accesscork.ie
e Education Irish eGovernment Award – Department of Education Northern Ireland - C2k
e Irish Language eGovernment Award – Údarás na Gaeltachta - www.udaras.ie
e Central Irish eGovernment Award – Revenue Online Service - www.revenue.ie www.ros.ie
e State Body Irish eGovernment Award – Courts Service - www.courts.ie 
e Commercial State Body Irish eGovernment Award – Bord Gáis Energy Supply - www.bordgaisenergysupply.ie
e Local Irish eGovernment Award – Laois Country Council - www.laois.ie
e Intranet Irish eGovernment Award – Westmeath County Council
e Project Management Irish eGovernment Award – Cork City Council - www.accesscork.ie

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About the Public Sector Times
The Public Sector Times has, for the past 33 years, been the leading public service publication in Ireland read by 100,000 public servants each month
About Elucidate
Elucidate is a strategic online consultancy that works with large public and private organisation to deliver web strategies and online communication.

For information on the judges please check out categories and judges

For details of sponsors please check out the sponsors section

To request more information contact Marian O'Dea at info@irishegovernmentawards.ie or call +353 (0) 1 400 4250.