Transform Gov - the digital government podcast

Maeve Kneafsey

Transform Gov, the digital government podcast, brings you top names behind many of the most exciting and transformative digital government projects globally. If you are working in, or with, public sector transformers who are digitising the public sector, each episode brings inside tips and insights from talented leaders who have been there and done that. www.digitalgovawards.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. From 3,000 to 18,000 applications — how the State rebuilt a system under pressure

    2 DAYS AGO

    From 3,000 to 18,000 applications — how the State rebuilt a system under pressure

    Two years and nine months. That’s how long people were waiting in the system — until everything had to change. What happens when a public service built for 3,000 applications a year suddenly faces over 18,000? That was the reality facing Ireland’s International Protection Office — a system under intense pressure, with growing backlogs, long delays, and real human consequences. In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks to Emer Mullins and Daniel Drennan, the team behind a transformation programme that didn’t just improve a service — it fundamentally redesigned it. From paper files that could stretch the length of a room…to fully digital workflows, online interviews, and real-time data dashboards… this is a story of what it actually takes to deliver change inside the public service — at scale, under pressure, and in real time. You’ll hear: What the system looked like before — and why it wasn’t sustainableHow they rebuilt processes before introducing technologyWhat changed for staff — and for applicantsHow decisions increased dramatically without simply adding more peopleWhat other public sector teams can learn from thisThis is not theory. This is real delivery. 🎧 Listen now — and if it resonates, share it with someone working on transformation. Chapters 00:00 — Welcome to Transform Gov 01:20 — What the International Protection Office actually does 02:30 — The surge: from 3,000 to 18,000 applications 04:44 — The “before”: paper, delays and pressure 06:44 — Waiting times: up to 2 years and 9 months 08:21 — The complexity: multiple agencies involved 10:07 — The tipping point — why change was unavoidable 11:25 — Where the transformation started 13:45 — Scaling up: staff, infrastructure and process 15:27 — From paper to digital — the reality on the ground 20:40 — Digitising 35,000+ case files 22:20 — Online interviews — what changed 25:49 — Time saved, faster decisions, real outcomes 27:30 — Preparing for new EU migration rules 29:39 — A fully digital applicant journey 32:38 — Data, dashboards and decision-making 34:59 — Lessons for other public sector teams 39:21 — What comes next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  2. What judges actually look for — straight from the head judge

    29 APR

    What judges actually look for — straight from the head judge

    An insider's guide to a brilliant entry for the Ireland eGovernment Awards Most teams think awards are about technology, scale, or budget. They’re not. On this episode of Transform Gov, we sit down with Declan Tuite, Head Judge of the Ireland eGovernment Awards, and Maeve Kneafsey, to break down what really separates winning entries from the rest. Why strong projects fall short. What judges are actually looking for. And how to turn your work into a clear, compelling entry. Because here’s the truth: The difference between winning and losing is often not the project — it’s how it’s explained. If you’re planning to enter the Ireland eGovernment Awards 2026, start here. Ready to enter? You can find step-by-step guides to entry on our website https://digitalgovawards.com/enter/resources/ Chapters 00:00 – Why this episode matters: helping you win 00:30 – Entries now open: key dates and deadlines 01:10 – Meet the head judge: Declan Tuite 02:00 – The #1 mistake applicants make 02:40 – It’s not the tech — it’s the story 03:20 – What judges actually look for 04:00 – Before and after: showing real impact 04:40 – Proof, not promises: using stats and evidence 05:30 – Who is the user? Why it matters 06:10 – Avoid this: jargon and over-explaining 06:50 – Innovation vs real-world results 07:30 – Picking the right category (and why it matters) 08:20 – Start early: why timing improves your entry 09:00 – Using supporting documents and visuals 09:40 – Writing clearly: answering the actual questions 10:20 – What makes an entry stand out 11:10 – Small projects can win (and do) 12:00 – Step-by-step: how to enter online 13:10 – Register, save, refine: how the system works 14:00 – Entering multiple categories 14:50 – What happens after you submit 16:00 – Final advice from the head judge 17:00 – Deadline reminder and key dates 18:00 – Why you should enter (even if unsure) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  3. Ireland is leaving €8 billion on the table — and this is why

    SEASON 2, EPISODE 67 TRAILER

    Ireland is leaving €8 billion on the table — and this is why

    In Part 2 of this Transform Gov conversation, Marie Wallace (Accenture) moves beyond the concept of digital identity — and explains what it actually means in practice for service delivery, cost, and efficiency. The headline figure? Up to €8 billion in economic impact for Ireland. But the real story is where that value comes from: removing manual verification from serviceseliminating repeated onboarding across organisationsreducing friction across life eventsand integrating identity directly into business processes From passports to healthcare to supply chains, this is a look at how identity sits at the centre of service transformation. And why fixing it could change everything. Get the full report The Identity Economy https://forms.office.com/r/fqCBsvQRv3 Chapters 00:00 Bringing digital identity into real-world impact 01:18 €8bn — where the number comes from 01:56 Manual verification — the hidden problem 02:46 Repeating data across services 03:06 Life events — why services don’t connect 04:53 Personalised services explained 05:47 Data control and AI at the edge 08:46 Fraud, deepfakes and verification 12:01 Where the biggest gains are (health, pensions, services) 13:38 Ireland’s opportunity and readiness 15:48 What governments must do next 18:04 What could derail progress 21:28 What changes over the next 3–5 years Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  4. Why you keep filling out the same forms — and why it’s about to end

    16 APR

    Why you keep filling out the same forms — and why it’s about to end

    Digital identity is often talked about — but rarely understood in practical terms. In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Marie Wallace, Managing Director and Global Lead for Digital Identities at Accenture, about what is broken in how we prove who we are today — and what is changing. From repeatedly filling out forms to sharing far more personal data than necessary, Marie explains why current identity systems are no longer fit for purpose — and how digital wallets and selective data sharing could transform how citizens access services. This conversation focuses on: Why identity systems are fragmented and inefficientHow digital wallets give citizens more control over their dataWhat “selective sharing” actually looks like in practiceHow trust is changing in a digital worldThe risks if identity systems are implemented badly In Part 2 we explore the economic impact and what this means for Ireland. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to digital identity and control of data 01:12 What digital identity actually means (and why it’s broken) 02:14 Why sharing too much data is a problem 03:02 Marie’s background in AI and data privacy 04:07 Why centralised data creates risk 06:18 AI, deepfakes and the growing identity challenge 07:50 Designing better identity into public services 09:11 Why identity isn’t reusable today 10:02 Public concern around biometrics and data 11:09 Breaking down silos between public and private services 12:27 The real problem: forms, friction and delays 13:26 What governments need to build (trust + wallets) 14:57 Trust frameworks and verification explained 16:27 EU regulation and what happens next 17:47 Who owns identity in this model 19:13 Efficiency and cost impact (part 2) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  5. What if the biggest risk facing the public service right now… is not using AI at all?

    9 APR

    What if the biggest risk facing the public service right now… is not using AI at all?

    In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey sits down with Malcolm Byrne TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, to unpack what has actually changed — and why the pace of change is now the real issue. From courts using AI for real-time translation… to Revenue analysing thousands of tax codes… to the uncomfortable truth that other countries are already moving faster — this is not a future conversation. It’s happening now. And the question is simple: are we ready?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  6. How smart public services are winning back users — with one simple design shift

    1 APR

    How smart public services are winning back users — with one simple design shift

    COVID changed how people engage with online services — permanently. The organisations that adapted are now seeing better engagement, better access, better outcomes. The rest are still catching up. In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Aoife Prendergast of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), whose team won the Universal Design category at the Ireland eGovernment Awards 2025. What they discovered is something every CIO, digital leader, and public service provider needs to hear: People have changed. Since COVID, expectations have shifted: always-on bite-sized easy to use Most services haven’t caught up. Aoife’s team did. They spotted the gap, redesigned using Universal Design, boosted engagement — and unlocked new funding and global collaboration. This isn’t compliance. It’s whether your service gets used at all. Key Topics Universal Design in public servicesDigital transformation in higher educationPublic sector accessibility strategyCitizen engagement post-COVIDService design and UX in governmentInclusive digital services IrelandeGovernment Awards IrelandTUS (Technological University of the Shannon)Accessibility vs usability Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  7. The system that was failing vulnerable children — and the fix that changed everything

    24 MAR

    The system that was failing vulnerable children — and the fix that changed everything

    This is not a tech story. This is a human story. Before this system existed, vulnerable children could wait weeks for access to childcare — stuck in a maze of emails, forms, and approvals. Now? Minutes. On this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Ruth Shortall (POBAL) and Ciarán Madden (Department of Children) about the system that: Cut waiting times from 3 weeks to minutesConnected multiple agencies into one seamless flowRemoved friction for frontline workers under pressureAnd quietly transformed outcomes for families at critical moments This is what real digital transformation looks like. Not flashy. Not theoretical. But life-changing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  8. What smart cities know about you before you do | Alice Charles | Transform Gov

    13 MAR

    What smart cities know about you before you do | Alice Charles | Transform Gov

    What if a city already knew your child was starting school — and simply sent you a text asking if you agreed with the proposed school? That already happens in Helsinki. In this episode of Transform Gov, infrastructure expert Alice Charles from Arup explains how some cities are using data, digital twins and AI to plan transport, housing and infrastructure far more intelligently. You will hear: How Helsinki predicts school demand using dataWhy digital twins allow cities to test developments instantlyWhy surveys often get transport data wrongHow Copenhagen paid for its metro by building housing around stationsWhy Dublin sometimes loses international meetings to cities with better transportHow electricity data can reveal vacant homes This conversation shows how data is quietly changing how cities function. Chapters00:00 Introduction 02:05 Helsinki’s predictive public services 04:00 Digital twins explained 05:30 Why visual planning wins public support 06:30 AI and planning systems 08:40 Human intelligence vs AI 11:10 Why surveys fail 12:10 Copenhagen’s real cycling data 15:30 MetroLink and global infrastructure firms 17:30 Metro funding through housing 20:40 Why Dublin loses business to Amsterdam 23:30 All-island infrastructure planning 26:00 Finding vacant homes using electricity data Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
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Transform Gov, the digital government podcast, brings you top names behind many of the most exciting and transformative digital government projects globally. If you are working in, or with, public sector transformers who are digitising the public sector, each episode brings inside tips and insights from talented leaders who have been there and done that. www.digitalgovawards.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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