The strategy, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, marks a resurgence of interest in e-government. Although Ireland was an early leader in sectors such as online tax returns, e-services have taken a back seat in recent years while Dublin struggled with the country's economic crisis.
While cutting costs is a major theme of new strategy, its message focuses on placing users at the centre. It claims to introduce "a new approach which aims to transform how citizens and businesses engage with the state". This will involve more data sharing across public service organisations made possible by a "single customer view".
The Single Customer View system takes identity data feeds from a range of national registers across the public service and seeks to match them. The system "will be instrumental in helping public bodies to improve the quality of customer identity data, improve assurances around identity claims, remove duplication of effort from recording and checking processes, and facilitate the provision of online identity services".
An essential component is the Public Services Card, introduced in 2011 by the Department of Social Protection. It combines a social security identity card with a concessionary travel card. Under the strategy, its use will spread across government. "Organisations must not use alternative cards without providing a very strong reason for not using the Public Service Card," it warns.
Open data is another theme. The strategy requires all public bodies to publish data in machine-readable formats. "Initially this will include data newly released (in reports, on websites etc.). Over time, public bodies should identify additional data that could be released as open data. This action will enable individuals and businesses to use data in ways most helpful to them including developing applications relevant to their own needs and interests."
Brendan Howlin TD Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, said: "The Government is committed to taking action to ensure that, in these economically difficult times, public services are delivered better than before, and that the improvement is continuous.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Michael Cross
Quelle/Source: UKauthorITy, 16.04.2012
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