6th December 2018
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, attended an event today at the offices of the Registry of Friendly Societies (RFS) in Bloom House, Dublin 1 to officially launch RFS Online.
The Launch of RFS Online is the first phase in a major IT project being carried out in the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to replace the IT systems used to manage all of the Registers under its remit.
The RFS is moving from a heavily paper based office to a fully electronic system with capabilities to manage the Register electronically and increase efficiency in document processing and provision.
Speaking at the launch of RFS Online Minister Humphreys said: “There has been a shift in customer expectations for Government services that requires innovative approaches to the provision of services. This Project reflects an enthusiasm to meet these expectations by providing more digital services to customers.”
The launch was attended by stakeholder groups who have enthusiastically welcomed the digital changes and have been anticipating the new customer portal. Registrar, Maureen O’Sullivan expressed her eagerness for the CRO to become a paperless office, to reduce fees and administrative burden for stakeholders by offering more services online.
From December 2018 customers of the RFS will be able to:
- Create a new entity online
- File an Annual Return online
- File amendments online including partial and full rule amendments
- Make online payments for filings
- Avail of reduced fees for electronic filings
- Order documents online
- Have access to an online portal to manage filings and get reminders
Editor’s Note: The Registry of Friendly Societies (RFS) is a statutory office of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and shares office space with the Companies Registration Office at Bloom House, Gloucester Place Lower, Dublin 1.
The RFS is made up of Industrial and Provident Societies, Trade Unions and Friendly Societies. The main customer base of the Register are Industrial and Provident Societies, which for the most part are made up of cooperative societies. At the end of 2017 there were 927 Industrial and Provident Societies, 46 Friendly Societies and 56 Trade Unions on the Register, a total of 1029 registered entities. The Office is responsible for the assessment and registration of applications and any subsequent amendment of Society rules. Following the commencement of the Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 it is no longer possible to register any new Friendly Societies.
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