IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

CIO Barry Lowry says great citizen services sit at the heart of his approach for Ireland, with a strong focus on data sharing.

Irish government CIO Barry Lowry is using digital transformation to help his country create joined-up and customer-centric services.

Unique number will reduce medical errors

Every person in the country who uses health and social care services is to be given an ‘Individual Health Identifier' (IHI) - a number that is unique to them and that will last their lifetime.

According to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the aim of the IHI is to accurately identify each person and to enable health and social care ‘to be delivered to the right patient, in the right place and at the right time'.

The Cabinet decision was taken in July.

It is mentioned in a report from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on savings and efficiencies from public service reform to be published today.

The report cites progress in cutting the public sector pay bill, e-government, legislative reform, performance measurement and implementation initiatives.

Along with Trondheim in Norway, Limerick is one of two ‘lighthouse cities’ piloting +CityxChange, which aims to revolutionise how cities make and use energy

As the world wakes up to climate change realities, Limerick is becoming a “lighthouse city”, according to Rosie Webb, head of urban innovation at Limerick City and County Council.

In 2018, the city won €6.5 million in funding spread over five years, as part of a new EU smart cities project.

Speaking on the publication, the Minister stated “The Government recognises the need for public services to be delivered faster, better and more efficiently to citizens and businesses. Intelligent, targeted use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and eGovernment are key enablers for these improvements. The new strategy places citizens and businesses at the centre of eGovernment”.

Perry, who is Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, with special responsibility for Small Business, today highlighted the importance for Ireland Inc of sustaining momentum in relation to the digital agenda.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., announced that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) is today issuing a tender for a second phase of ICT graduate skills conversion programmes to commence in early 2013.

Fresh concern about State sharing of citizens’ data after publication of new strategy

An identity card currently held by more than two million people has so far prevented just €2.5million worth of welfare fraud, figures from the Department of Social Protection show.

Public services cards, the issuing of which will have cost €60 million by the end of the year, were first provided to social welfare customers and people claiming certain State benefits. They are now being rolled out to all citizens and the Government has said they will be required for certain services, such as obtaining passports and driving licences.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said yesterday the high number of residency applications marriages between Pakistanis and EU citizens from the Baltic states was a concern. He had asked his officials to examine as “a matter of urgency” the possibility of the deployment of biometric technology to all visa applications from Pakistan.

There were 1,894 applications for residency based on marriage to an EU citizen in 2010. Some 378 of these applications were made by Pakistanis, 172 were to Latvians and 39 to Lithuanians.

A recognition, albeit a late one, that large organisations including Government, need an expert leading public sector IT strategy and delivery.

Mr McCluggage describes himself as a self-confessed builder and innovator - two skills he is very likely to need, as he attempts to lead the transformation of Irish eGovernment and bring about change in the public sector here.

The Interim Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review (LGER) Implementation Group by the CCMA shows that €830 million in financial savings have already been delivered at local government level between 2008 and 2012 through efficiency gains and reductions in expenditure and staff numbers.

Proof-of-concept trial showcases how wireless internet standard has been deployed to provide residents, tourists and businesses in Irish capital with convenient access to municipal services

The City of Dublin has announced a successful proof-of-concept trial of the OpenRoaming standard from the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA).

The debate surrounding the introduction of computing classes in Irish schools has been simmering for the past two years, fuelled by the popularity of the CoderDojo movement, and companies citing a lack of skilled graduates to fill ICT positions.

With 900,000 ICT vacancies predicted across the European Union in 2015, bridging the skills gap could present Europe’s young with some great opportunities, according to Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.

Department believed release of Dixon’s email would ‘misinform’ about public services card

The Data Protection Commissioner told the head of the Department of Social Protection last year that there was a risk the public services card (PSC) was expanding in scope and that this would turn it into “a form of national ID card”.

Becoming a Smart City will greatly enhance Galway's ability to navigate the post Covid-19 world

Covid-19 is changing the way we behave in Galway city. We all know now how complicated life is being in confinement, trying to keep a good balance between personal life and professional activities while working from home and/or also living with high levels of stress when there is a health or safety risk in our surroundings.

An industry collaboration in Cork has seen the creation of a new ‘Smart Gateway’ to help the country prepare for a sensor-heavy future.

Smart solutions are being investigated globally to improve everything from water management systems to traffic volumes, crowd monitoring to strains on power resources, and Cork is trying to get to the front of the queue.

Collaborative initiative to drive smart agenda for citizens

Creating a “smarter region” is the focus of a new collaborative initiative, Cork Smart Gateway, which launched this week. The aim of the Gateway is to develop the region as an attractive place to live, work and visit using technology to drive economic growth, improve public services and promote better engagement between residents, visitors and local authorities.

All farmers will be forced to apply for EU funds online from next year

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has refused to rule out the prospect that controversial Public Services Cards (PSCs) will be required for more than a hundred thousand farmers to apply for EU payments.

The Department website already includes general information about all aspects of public expenditure and reform, including an overview of general expenditure trends since 1994.