In parallel with the implementation of the Networking and Communications infrastructure, a major Systems Programme is scheduled for implementation during the period 2006 – 2009 in Donegal County Council and in the town Council’s of Letterkenny, Bundoran, Ballyshannon and Buncrana. This programme will build on the substantial body of work accomplished in the 2002 –2005 period and will include a combination of national projects co-ordinated by LGCSB to locally sourced and developed systems in Donegal County Council. Major corporate systems to be implemented in this period include the following :
- Human Resources Management System
- Agresso Financial Management System Upgrade
- Housing (Home)
- Continuation of GIS Programme
- E-Direct - Contact Management
- Irish Language Development Programme
- Management of Council Business
- Managers Orders
- I-Plan Enhancements
- Payroll
- E-Business Systems
- Document Management Expansion
- Intranet Development
- Project Management System to underpin implementation of Corporate Plan
- Non Domestic Water Billing Project.
- Library Services
- Higher Education Grants
- Town Council Websites & Associated Systems
As part of Donegal County Council’s major re-structuring and service delivery improvement programme a fundamental examination of work activities is being undertaken by the Organisational Development unit. The outputs from this project will be of considerable assistance to the systems development/implementation programme in terms of identifying the need for new applications, proposing functionality as well as agreeing information requirements at the various levels of management within the Council.
The Information Systems Department will work closely with the Local Government Computer Services Board in relation to the planning and implementation of national corporate systems such as Housing (Home) and Agresso 5.4 (Financial Management System). LGCSB compile operational plans on an annual basis setting out priorities for each year in terms of system implementations, and the I.S. Department will liase with LGCSB and the individual sponsoring Department to ensure that these major systems are delivered and implemented as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Other system requirements will be analysed, developed and implemented by the Council’s own software development team working closely with Council business owners and staff.
The third option will be to source required systems in the open market following the agreement of business requirements with user Departments where that option is the most advantageous to the Council.
Each annual I.S. Operational plan will detail the systems priorities and objectives for the year in question in consultation with the relevant Council Departments.