Watchdog highlights shortfalls in e-government scheme

The Comptroller and Auditor General has reportedly highlighted major shortfalls with the Government's ambitious plan to make public services available online.

Reports this morning say only half of the 141 flagship projects were fully operational six months after the end-of-2005 deadline had passed.

A further 23 were abandoned entirely and 44 were only partly implemented by mid-2006, but the Revenue Online Service is identified as an obvious success.

The C&AG and has also reportedly found that the estimated cost of the projects will be 20% over budget at €420m.