Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

The process for the delivery of on-line services is equally relevant to the business community as
outlined in Chapter 4. Three key infrastructures form part of the necessary basis for progress as
an Information Society:
■ telecommunications infrastructure: developing the capacity necessary for delivery of advanced
telecommunications services;
■ legal and regulatory environment: ensuring a secure and a predictable legal framework for
electronic transactions that provides the necessary confidence for both business and consumers;
and
■ eGovernment: a key leadership role for Government in driving wider engagement with ICTs
through its own business processes and service delivery arrangements.
As indicated in Chapter 4, the Government is committed to the rolling out of the necessary
infrastructure identified in its Broadband Action Plan, as outlined in New Connections (in partnership
with the private sector). The development of eCommerce strategies by domestic and internationally
trading companies will be encouraged and an efriendly regulatory framework will be further
developed. To stimulate development of eCommerce, the Government will prioritise the development
of a unique business services identifier to facilitate improved access to public services by the business
community. The Government will support the accelerated roll out of eGovernment services for
business in their dealing with State Agencies as envisaged in New Connections.
Procurement capacity across the public sector will be developed through the use of efficient
procurement practices and processes, and by the adoption of effective procurement-related ICT.
In this regard, the Government will prioritise the implementation of systems to support online
receipt of tenders as a further development of the e-tenders facility already in place.
2.12 Ending Child Poverty
The analysis in the NESC Strategy Report 2002 emphasises that the significance of childhood
conditions is greater than ever before. The objective in the NAPS is to reduce the numbers of children
who are consistently poor to below 2% by 2007 and, if possible, eliminate consistent poverty.
2.12.1 Combatting educational disadvantage and social exclusion
The society of the future will be a more difficult one for early school leavers to negotiate. If we are
serious about tackling educational disadvantage and procuring social inclusion, we must address
disadvantaged conditions in childhood, which are known to increase the likelihood of early school
leaving and poor school performance. The productivity of people over their working lives is
significantly linked to the quality of their childhood and early schooling.
2.12.2 Developing new responses to on-going social and cultural change
Social and cultural changes are creating new hazards to children’s well-being which demand
new responses. These include a decline in the birth rate to below the replacement rate, changing
family patterns, children as a significant consumer market (including as users of the electronic
media), a greater awareness of the exploitation of children (past and present) and diminished
neighbourhood ties.
Chapter 2 Special Initiatives
33