PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 19^TH FEBRUARY 2009

South Dublin County Council shortlisted for 4 awards at EGovernment Awards 2009

South Dublin County Council has been shortlisted for 2 projects in the eGovernment awards. The Connect School Project was nominated in the Ireland's Cross Agency eGovernment Award and Ireland's Project Management eGovernment Award. Also nominated for 2 awards is the South Dublin County Library Service in the Ireland's Accessible eGovernment Award and Ireland's Local Government eGovernment Award

South Dublin County Councils Connect School initiative is about developing student-centered technology in order to improve school attendance, participation in class and educational outcomes for the students at St. Aidans Community School in Tallaght.

The Connect initiative was launched to bring technology to the people of South Dublin through a range of projects that deliver free, easy to use, on-line services to help them achieve their learning, social development, personal and leisure goals.

More information is available at http://connect.southdublin.ie/connect/

South Dublin County Libraries provide a free digital book service the first of its kind in Ireland. From the website customers can download eBooks to their laptops or phones and digital audio books to their iPods, Sony eReaders and other MP3 players. Now your favourite books and all the latest bestsellers can be taken with you anywhere anytime. On the Luas or on the beach at no extra cost. These digital books cannot be lost or damaged, can be borrowed without a visit to a library and have an automatic return date. This service from South Dublin County Libraries has been nominated for two awards at tonights eGovernment Awards under the Accessible eGovernment and Local Government categories in recognition of this innovative and ground breaking new service

Ireland's eGovernment Awards are the recognised benchmark for excellence in Irish eGovernment services and standards. The Awards raise awareness and recognise the innovators, developers, forward thinkers and experts who are pioneering the changes happening in how the Irish Government delivers services to its citizens.

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Issued 19^th February 2009