The Social Solidarity Ministry will save up to €500,000 on postage and paperwork every year when new IT systems are introduced in the coming weeks and months.
Speaking at a press conference in Valletta, Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca explained that the new systems that are being designed by MITA, will also simplify the pensions system and, in fact, applicants will be saved the trouble of having to go from one department to the other.
Ms Coleiro Preca that the Ministry she is responsible for deals with a huge amount of paperwork, with postage costs amounting to almost half a million euro. The Ministry also has a yearly €50,000 contract for the transportation of documents. It is also running out of storage space. The antiquated system also means that cases take a number of weeks to be resolved.
“With a new IT system we will save both time and money. We will have a more efficient service and clients will be served quicker.” She added that, in the coming weeks pension payments will be issued automatically because the need for clients to go from one office to the other will be eliminated. Relevant information from the Inland Revenue Department and other entities will also be acquired in a more efficient manner. The same principles will be applied to Marriage Grants and Widower’s pensions and new IT systems will also enhance the work of the Housing Authority, Saint Vincent de Paule Residence and the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth, Edward Zammit Lewis, said that this forms part of the wider National ICT Strategy. The government aims to take the Public Service into the digital era, thereby increasing efficiency and cutting waiting times and costs. “Money saved can be better used elsewhere and Public Service employees who are currently doing manual work can shift to more effective and productive work.”
Dr Zammit Lewis insisted that the aim is to also educate the public in being more IT friendly so that more people can benefit from the e-Government online services. However, only 33% of people over 50 are familiar with these services. Dr Zammit Lewis said that this is unacceptable, especially when compared to the very high number of young people who know their way around these services.