New developments in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are fundamentally changing the way we live, work and interact with each other. Shifts to digital technology such as the rapid rise in the use of mobile devices and widespread information sharing as well as experiences with other industries such as banking, travel, retail and entertainment mean that citizens expectations for technology enabled government services have risen significantly in recent years. This shift in expectations coupled with the financial pressure on Government to transform and ado more and better with less, presents new opportunities to deliver better outcomes for citizens, businesses and public servants. With technology at the heart of Ireland's economic agenda, this Strategy embraces the new technological era and will set an example for the successful use of ICT for delivering public services.
- The Public Service will be more agile and deliver more user centric and innovative services for citizens and businesses.
- Innovative use of ICT in the Public Service will deliver better value for taxpayers by creating efficiencies through integration, consolidation and sharing of common infrastructure, systems and resources.
- Adoption and facilitation of digital technologies will increase productivity, improve the relationship between citizens, businesses and government and will deliver social and economic benefits for Ireland.
- Integrated services and increased data sharing will drive significant efficiencies; will facilitate insight driven decision making; will increase openness and transparency between Government and the public; and will provide a much higher user experience and quality of service for citizens, businesses and public servants.
- Improved ICT governance will ensure alignment, reduce risk and support unification as envisaged under the Public Service Reform Plan and Civil Service Renewal Plan.
- The future needs for ICT skills will be met through professionalisation of ICT streams, targeted recruitment and improved mobility and succession planning across all Public Bodies.
The Public Service comprises of a diverse range of Government Departments, Offices and Agencies (hereinafter referred to as 'Public Bodies') delivering a wide range of services across all areas of society and business. Each Public Body has a breadth of business needs and varying ICT requirements and capabilities. ICT has been recognised as a critical component for the successful delivery of many existing services and this Strategy will enable the Public Service to build on these successes and use ICT to operate in a more efficient, shared and integrated manner across all of Government. Given the broad range of services provided by all Public Bodies, this Public Service ICT Strategy defines approaches and principles that will deliver real change and efficiency, while creating a structure through which individual Public Bodies can deliver their own strategies to support their individual business needs.
When delivered, this Strategy will create a new model for ICT delivery across the Public Service; delivering more efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery through a more integrated, shared and digital environment.