7. eGovernment

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Site searches. Source: CMOD, Department of Finance. Sites using search.gov.ie and the number of searches on each since 25 January. (Note: not all sites have been on search system for the whole period.)

The government has deployed a powerful new search system for public sector websites. The Google-powered search facility – search.gov.ie – is already indexing central government department sites, the Revenue Commissioners and a number of other major sites.

The search.gov.ie system offers two services to public sector websites. The first is inclusion in an index of many government sites. Second is a site-specific search that replaces the need for site managers to deploy their own on-site search.

The central search is being made available to over 400 public sector websites at no cost to site managers. By removing the need to provide separate search systems on each site it is hoped that it will lead to substantial savings of public funds as well as better access to public information.

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