The Irish government plans to embrace open government by increasing public access to government information, creating an open-data portal and improving data sharing across government agencies, it says in a Public Service Reform Plan (.pdf) published Nov. 17.

Inspired by the early success of its health services reporting tool, called "Healthstat," Ireland will roll out a wider "GovStat" initiative in 2012 to publish government services' performance information for public access online. The Irish government also sees "significant opportunity for increasing the electronic delivery of services" and plans to launch a related "eGovernment strategy" in January 2012.

The plan indicates that Ireland will develop a single open data portal similar to data.gov in the United Sates and data.gov.uk in the United Kingdom. The government plans to "publish existing online information and services through a centralised portal to increase awareness and access."

According to the reform plan, open and electronic government initiatives are focused on 10 key areas:

1. Ensuring information and services are available online and through electronic channels;
2. Examining legislation and regulations that could mandate and encourage online or self-service channels; 
3. Developing consistent citizen identification data across a central government system--subject to compliance with data protection laws and principles; 
4. Implementing the Public Services Card, which was unveiled in early October, and linking it to government services;
5. Sharing and publishing data on the performance of key services for citizens and businesses;
6. Improving data sharing on businesses across public bodies;
7. Communicating and engaging with the public in order to improve service delivery; 
8. Researching, developing and utilizing cloud computing in the public services;
9. Reducing the cost of information-technology infrastructure and ownership by government; and 
10. Developing a code of practice for data gathering and its use for statistical purposes across government, to facilitate improved usefulness of the data for decision-making, planning and service delivery.

As part of the reform, Ireland established a cabinet committee to carry out reform efforts with a dedicated program director and an operationally-focused reform and delivery office within its Department of Public expenditure and Reform. All departments and major offices are required to finalize "high-level integrated reform delivery plans early in 2012," says the document.

For more:
- download the "Government Statement: Public Service Reform Plan" (.pdf)

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