The Office of the e-Envoy (OeE) has failed to hit its most recent targets for putting government services online. Last June, the office set itself a target of having 71 per cent of its 576 business and public services available on line by the end of 2002. At the time 54 per cent of its services were live.
But its latest Electronic Service Delivery report shows only a nine per cent increase, with 63 per cent of targeted services now available online.
However, the OeE is unconcerned about the shortfall. A spokeswoman said the department still expects to be on track for its 2005 deadline.
"There has been a bit of slippage on our spring 2002 forecast, but the department maintains it is still on track for the 2005 target," she said.
John Levell, director at Deloitte & Touche, said that targets were proving difficult to meet, despite being a good way of getting local government moving.
"The government is very brave to set challenging targets which are more like objectives," he added. "But it is essential that local government attempts to meet these."
Levell said local government e-services development is going through a new phase, with councils working on wider-ranging multiple projects rather than separately.
"This will speed up the development of e-services in the long run," he added.
Quelle: Vnunet
