[WATCH] Government to launch mobile app for public services in 2017

Simplification measures aimed at creating a more efficient, and accountable civil service - Schembri

The government will be launching a mobile app that makes public services available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar announced that the first services would be available online in the first quarter of 2017, with all e-government services eventually becoming available through the application.

The move follows the government’s on-going simplification process and the creation of ‘one-stop-shop’ service provision points.

Anthony Agius Decelis, Commissioner for Simplification and Reduction of Bureaucracy, said the new app would increase transparency and accountability, providing a civil service driven towards a more satisfied customer. On-going training of civil servants was also contributing to a change in the culture of the civil service. 

“Last year saw the implimentation of 249 simplification measures , a 7% increase of simplification measures over the previous year. We are a business friendly administration and our next aim is to help the business sector, by making the public services more accessible,” he said.

Parliamentary secretary for simplification Deborah Schembri said simplification does not equal a lack of accountability and a number of measures have been introduced to ensure this element would be safeguarded.

She mentioned public services, such as IT courses in various localities, which were improving citizens’ access to the civil service and helping them adapt to an increasingly virtual world.

“We are used to constant complaints about the bureaucracy in the public sector, which wastes the public’s time,” she said.  “The government is ready to take on the challenge of providing simplified, high quality services with the least possible disruption.”