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Friday, 8.05.2026
Transforming Government since 2001
The Press and Communications Office in the Department of Health has launched a new web area providing information on health topics of current interest.

These pages will be under the banner 'Healthupdate' and are directly accessible at www.healthupdate.gov.ie or from the homepage of the Department's website www.dohc.ie.

The pages will include information from various sources including PQs, adjournment debates, HSE briefs, speeches, press statements, etc, according to the Department.

Read more: Ireland: Department of Health sets up new web info area

According to an EU Commission study, 30% of Irish adults have never been online.

The study showed however that some sectors of Irish industry are ahead of EU averages for ICT use.

It also revealed that EU spending on ICT research is less than half of US levels.

By 2020, the European Commission wants all households to have access to high-speed broadband, as part of its "Digital Agenda". By 2015, all patients could have access to their online medical records wherever they are in the EU.

Read more: 30% of Irish adults have never been online

European Commission vice-president Neelie Kroes, who is responsible for the EU's Digital Agenda, said the Government should continue to manage the economic difficulties by stimulating services such as e-government, e-learning and e-health.

This strategy, she said, would bring "great benefits" to Irish citizens by making smart use of limited public resources.

Ms Kroes was speaking yesterday at the Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) conference in Dublin Castle.

Read more: Ireland: Take digital path to growth, EU's Kroes tells Government

Job seekers will be able to 'Dial for their Dole' by the end of this year as the Government is spending €1.03m on introducing the service.

The Department of Social Protection is attempting to shorten dole queues by allowing jobseekers to certify their unemployment through their mobile phones.

It is hoped that new mobile phone technology, which is costing €1,033,346, will ease the pressure which social welfare offices are experiencing because of the rapidly lengthening dole queues.

Read more: Ireland: 'Dial-a-dole' system due for rollout by year-end

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