Consultation fatigue?

Research has begun on e-consultation - the use of computing and electonic communication technologies in consultation exercises - to investigate the potential of this method for Northern Ireland and the border counties.

The study is coordinated by Queen’s University Belfast, NUI Maynooth and Letterkenny Institute of Technology and aims to turn e-consultation into a practical option for voluntary and community and public sector bodies.

Questionnaire

A comprehensive survey of current consultation practices in Ireland has been set up at www.may.ie/nirsa/econsult/ngo . It should be completed by organisations that have engaged in consultation with local or central authorities with a view to impacting policymaking. It will take no longer than five minutes to complete.

The questionnaire focuses on your organisation’s capacity to engage in consultation processes, the use of technology in these processes, and your evaluation of the consultation processes in which you have already participated. Closing date for responses is 30 July 2004.

NICVA

NICVA also plans to pilot e-consultation later this year with a view to offering this as a useful alternative to members of the sector who want to contribute to consultations, but find it hard to participate because of a lack of time due to hectic work schedules.

For more information visit econsult.mgt.qub.ac.uk