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Central Government, Education IT

Recession drives Irish government services online

By Alice Kok | 24 February 2009

Ireland is looking to e-government to make savings as tough economic times bite, while education online can be up to 40 per cent cheaper than educating people in a classroom, according to Irish online strategy company Elucidate.

Maeve Kneafsey, Managing Director of Elucidate, said: “E-government really comes into its own during a time when budgets are tight. It can mean a dramatic cut in the cost of delivering services to the citizen. It can also play a significant role in speeding up our transformation to a knowledge economy.”

Elucidate co-hosted Ireland’s e-government awards, which allowed citizens to vote for their favourite e-service for the first time.

The range of online services is growing every year in Ireland, and includes the less known services such as the online livestock mart service from the Department of Agriculture, which has replaced a slower system with a live web recording of animal movements.

The overall winner, South Dublin County Council - Digital Book Service, provides an online service allowing citizens to sign up to the library service and download audio books as well as reserve books online, providing direct library access to those with visual or literacy problems.

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