Pavlinic Krebs told the press after the cabinet session that individual data sources in the system should be ready and connected by the end of this year at the latest and fully constituted at the start of 2011.
Existing information systems will be upgraded as part of the project and a website will be set up enabling access to eWalfare services. Citizens will have the possibility to examine their welfare rights with the help of digital certificates and send in electronic applications, the minister said.
Pavlinic Krebs stressed that a lot of attention was being devoted to securing that personal data is protected in the system. Data will only be accessible to those legally entitled, she added.
A total of EUR 5.7m in EU structural funds has been earmarked for the project, while EUR 5.2 will probably come from the state budget, the government Communication Office said in a press release.
The eWelfare project council is headed by Pavlinic Krebs and Labour, Family and Social Affairs Minister Ivan Svetlik, while the interministerial group will feature 56 experts from 22 public administration institutions.