Early warning alerts for public safety concerns are to be extended nationwide as part of new investment in local government services.
Under a new plan, every local authority in the State will have 90 per cent of their services available online in the next six years under a multi-million euro transformation of local authorities.
The Local Government Digital & ICT Strategy 2030, launched in Dublin on Thursday by Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Alan Dillon, will dramatically change how the public interacts with county and city councils.
The plan aims to roll out national online local government services, meaning planning applications, licences, permits, payments, community grants and motor tax will be available at the touch of a button via mobile phones.
It will also see a nationwide extension of early warning alerts – currently available in some councils – for flooding, health alerts such as e-coli warnings and information from pollution and water quality sensors.
Another of its key aims is to improve in-person access for those who do not want to take the digital option by reducing the amount of paperwork council staff have to do.
Mr Dillon said he was convinced services will be easier to reach under the new plan.
“We know that local authorities are committed to putting people first but by aiming to deliver digital services that are accessible and user-friendly, this commitment is now accompanied by a real desire to speed up service delivery time, to allow for easier access, and to embrace innovative improvements.
The initiative is being developed by local authorities, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).
Of the roughly 1,300 services provided to the public by the Republic’s 31 local authorities, the strategy aims to place 90 per cent of them online by the end of the decade.
Digital portals will be installed in local authorities that will contain the full digital service catalogue.
The State’s first local Government National Security Operation Centre (SOC) will also be implemented, providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity to local authorities.
The strategy aims to give councils the facility to implement new technological initiatives which to date may not exist in all authorities.
These include digital hubs for information about community facilities such as location, opening hours and events in parks, recreation centres, pitches, playgrounds and trails.
“Everything provided by local authorities will be much simpler to use, with minimum clicks from the beginning to the end of a process,” said Saab Khan, chief information officer at the LGMA.
“This will solidify Ireland as a technology innovator in the provision of services and Ireland has the potential to become a leader from a Gov-Tech perspective.”
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
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