New Connections - Department of Taoiseach

Transforming GovernmentThere is a general acceptance of the need to focus on the further development of e-Government,beyond pure service delivery, to encompass transformation of the policy and administrative processes.To that end, the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance are preparing proposals in relation to thecore supports and mechanisms required to enable the wider, corporate Public Service to effect an ICTenabled transformation. The intention is to exploit the potential for greater synergies throughcollaboration and greater effectiveness from investments in technology, through the sharing of commonprocesses and the aggregation of similar operations or components into shared service centres.2.4 E-Business2.4.1 There are quite a number of initiatives focused primarily on the SME sector that, in the main, continuethe broad range of initiatives under the Government’s first Action Plan. Forfás are due to publish an e-Business monitor report shortly and the Information Society Commission is also addressing the issue.2.4.2 Issues ArisingThere is a growing sense that ‘e-Business’ has broadened out to the bigger issue of the ‘knowledgeeconomy’ which is especially relevant now given the world economic situation as it affects Ireland.The intention is to focus attention on this area during 2003 and on the issues arising out of the Forfásreport and the Information Society Commission’s work, reviewing the policy options for positioningIreland as a significant player in global terms by identifying and maximizing our strengths.2.5 R&D2.5.1 Science Foundation IrelandScience Foundation Ireland (SFI) is administering over €635m of the Technology Foresight Fund overseven years. Projects approved to date total €100m.2.5.2 Irish Council for Science Technology & InnovationIrish Council for Science Technology & Innovation is developing a framework for national policy inresearch and technological development. It was due to submit proposals to the Tanaiste andGovernment by end of 2002.2.5.3 Issues ArisingThe significance of R&D investment has been brought into sharper focus over the last year as theeconomic downturn highlights the need to promote the development of the knowledge economy. Thewhole area of R&D and the development of knowledge-based enterprises is currently being consideredby the Information Society Commission and the output from that process will be considered when itbecomes available.2.6 Lifelong Learning2.6.1 Fostering a learning environment and delivering new learning opportunities through the use of ICT iskey to our move to a knowledge-based economy. The development of -a strategic framework forlifelong learning is also critical to active citizenship and social inclusion objectives and it is essentialthat we create the conditions whereby citizens have the skills, motivation and opportunity to access andbenefit from learning in pursuit of a high quality of life.2.6.2 Progress is already underway in a number of key areas: The National Qualifications Authority havepublished a framework of levels of qualification in 2002 and FÁS are working on the issue ofaccreditation of prior and experiential learning; the Department of Education and Science has createdtwo posts within the NCCA to focus on developing the delivery of curriculum using ICT at primary and5