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Infrastructure

Published on July 14, 2021

Last update on Nov. 16, 2023

Table of contents

Managed Desktop

As part of the Build to Share programme, the managed desktop service delivers the standard range of services. These services are used by a number of government departments and organisations.

This includes:

  • PCs
  • Laptops
  • Hybrid/tablet devices
  • Office productivity suite
  • Email
  • Internet access
  • Telephone
  • Service desk support
  • Hosting infrastructure
  • Cyber security services

The Build to Share managed desktop service also includes on-net and guest Wi-Fi.

OGCIO is responsible for supporting the technology needs of about 14% of civil servants (April 2021).

Plans to increase this percentage are supported by the Civil Service Management Board.

The departments and agencies using this service are listed below:

  • Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
  • Department of Defence (includes the Commission on Defence Forces)
  • Department of Finance
  • Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
  • Department of Rural and Community Development
  • Department of Transport
  • Adoption Authority of Ireland
  • Áras an Uachtaráin / President’s Establishment
  • Commission for Public Service Appointments
  • Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)
  • Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
  • National Council for Special Education
  • National Disability Authority
  • National Shared Services Office
  • Office of the Ombudsman
  • Office of the Information Commissioner
  • Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information
  • Office of Government Procurement (OGP)
  • Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner
  • Ombudsman for Children’s Office
  • Referendum Commission
  • Register of Lobbying, maintained by SIPO (Standards in Public Office Commission)
  • Standards in Public Office Commission
  • Tax Appeals Commission

For contact details view the About Us page on this website.

Government Cloud

As part of the Build to Share programme, the Government Cloud is a private cloud system that:

  • drives efficiency
  • reduces costs
  • improves security
  • supports integration

The Government Cloud means that smaller departments and offices will not have to support their own platforms.

It also maximises the value of the hardware through sharing and reuse. This sharing of infrastructure is an important part of the State Data Centre project.

For contact details view the About Us page on this website.

Government Networks

As part of the Build to Share programme, Government Networks offers cost-effective and reliable network services for:

  • voice
  • video
  • Wi-Fi
  • data

These services are delivered to all connected agencies including:

  • all Government Departments and bodies under their aegis
  • the Houses of the Oireachtas
  • Local Authorities
  • education bodies
  • the HSE

It is a vital service used by agencies across the public service and it continues to evolve.

It supported the switch from office-based working to remote working in 2020. Security improvements were put in place to support this switch.

Government Networks is a nationwide service. It will continue to place a focus on:

  • delivering fibre to rural locations
  • combining connections in areas where many public service bodies are located

For contact details view the About Us page on this website.

National Low Latency Platform

The National Low Latency Platform is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and is Project 2.5. “Using 5g Technologies to Drive a Greener More Innovative Ireland.”

The objective

To ensure that public administrations maximise the benefit from 5G technologies.

The investment consists in the building of a low latency platform with a high speed backbone using edge compute nodes to enable a faster response. A variety of public services shall be subsequently developed, tested and deployed using the platform, notably for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) and test before invest for SMEs and start-ups.

First Target

By the fourth quarter of 2023, at least 18 compute nodes shall have been purchased following procurement exercises.

Second Target

By the fourth quarter of 2024, at least 18 compute nodes shall have been installed and deployed on the platform.

Milestone

The testing of the Public Protection and Disaster Relief service and the roaming from it onto a commercial carriers 5G network shall have been implemented and executed. The tests shall have been signed off by the IT staff and Practitioners from the Public Protection and Disaster Relief Agencies.