General Information
Cases/Enablers
OOP Enabling Infrastructure
Appetizer
Government Networks (GN) is a private, managed, wide area network (WAN) connecting public service agencies on a data, voice and video capable network. GN is designed primarily to facilitate secure and reliable communication between government agencies.
Short summary
The Department of Public Expenditure & Reform in conjunction with the Government Networks Programme Board has established the Government Networks (GN) on behalf of the non-commercial public sector. Government Networks (GN) is a private, managed, wide area network (WAN) connecting public service agencies on a data, voice and video capable network. GN is designed primarily to facilitate secure and reliable communication between Government agencies and to support existing and future Government applications.
For citizens and businesses, data-sharing between public bodies means that they need not provide the same information multiple times to different bodies. The implementation of an “ask-once, use-many” vision will help to significantly reduce the administrative burden on citizens and businesses, and will allow them to avail of higher-quality, more efficient and seamless public services on a cross sectoral basis.
For citizens and businesses, data-sharing between public bodies means that they need not provide the same information multiple times to different bodies. The implementation of an “ask-once, use-many” vision will help to significantly reduce the administrative burden on citizens and businesses, and will allow them to avail of higher-quality, more efficient and seamless public services on a cross sectoral basis.
Focus
Government
Start date
Scope
National/Federal
Country
Ireland
Nature and status of project
Rolled Out
Is the OOP case/enabler mandatory?
Mandatory
ENABLING ASSETS OR COMPONENTS
Political commitment
The first Public Service Reform Plan, http://reformplan.per.gov.ie
The first Public Service Reform Plan stated that “[w]e will improve the sharing of data across Government to reduce costs and enhance customer service.” The subsequent Reform Plan also had a strong focus on data-sharing.
The first Public Service Reform Plan stated that “[w]e will improve the sharing of data across Government to reduce costs and enhance customer service.” The subsequent Reform Plan also had a strong focus on data-sharing.
Socio-cultural influence factors
GN offers a number of potential cost and operational benefits to participating agencies and to government as a whole:
Facilitates inter-agency collaboration and delivery of joined-up government services by providing a secure connectivity environment for data exchange/sharing.
All agencies regardless of size have access to network capability and products/technology usually available only to large ICT capable agencies.
Takes care of many standard day-to-day infrastructure services so agencies can focus their resources on providing their core programmes and services.
Security of government information systems is significantly improved by consolidating expertise and resources at a small number of network connections.
Internet access costs for government agencies have substantially been incorporated into one highly resilient infrastructure, providing much greater bandwidth to agencies than had been practicable heretofore.
Offers the commercial advantages of an aggregrated procurement approach, resulting in significantly reduced costs and tariffs.
Facilitates inter-agency collaboration and delivery of joined-up government services by providing a secure connectivity environment for data exchange/sharing.
All agencies regardless of size have access to network capability and products/technology usually available only to large ICT capable agencies.
Takes care of many standard day-to-day infrastructure services so agencies can focus their resources on providing their core programmes and services.
Security of government information systems is significantly improved by consolidating expertise and resources at a small number of network connections.
Internet access costs for government agencies have substantially been incorporated into one highly resilient infrastructure, providing much greater bandwidth to agencies than had been practicable heretofore.
Offers the commercial advantages of an aggregrated procurement approach, resulting in significantly reduced costs and tariffs.
DATA HANDLING / DATA EXCHANGE
Type of data sharing
Actual data
Data handler
Stakeholder name
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Stakeholder category
Government
Stakeholder name
The Revenue Commissioners
Stakeholder category
Government
Stakeholder name
The Department of Education and Skills
Stakeholder category
Government
Stakeholder name
the Department of Foreign Affairs
Stakeholder category
Government
Stakeholder name
General Register Office
Stakeholder category
Government
Stakeholder name
The Department of Social Protection
Stakeholder category
Government
Stakeholder name
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)
Stakeholder name
The office of the President
Stakeholder category
Government
Architecture
Currently there are seven carriers peered with GN who can provide connectivity to agencies:
BT Government Network, Complete Government Network, eircom BIP service, eircom Metro Network, Magnet, Smart Telecom Government Network, UPC Government Network
BT Government Network, Complete Government Network, eircom BIP service, eircom Metro Network, Magnet, Smart Telecom Government Network, UPC Government Network