Update: Future Reform Objectives – Public Expenditure and Reform 6th November, 2014

 
  To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide any future reform objectives over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
 
REPLY.

Since this Government took office, sustainable and far reaching Public Service Reform has been a key element of our strategy to meet the challenges that have faced the country in recent years.  Public Service Reform will also continue to play a key role in our recovery. 

As the Deputy will be aware, we published our first Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011.  A Progress Report on the Reform Plan was published in September 2012 and a second Progress Report was published in January this year (available at www.reformplan.per.gov.ie ).   These reports set out the significant progress that has been made to date. 

In January this year, I published the Government’s second Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016.  There are over 230 specific actions set out in the Reform Plan including greater use of shared services and innovative approaches to service delivery; increased use of technology and improved engagement with service users; more efficient and effective public procurement and property management; increased accountability and transparency in public decision making; enhanced leadership and performance management; and a continued focus on building the required capacity and capability to deliver reform and service improvements across the Public Service.  The new Reform Plan is also available at www.reformplan.per.gov.ie .

Last week, the Taoiseach and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan.  This ambitious plan incorporates a vision and a three year action plan to renew the Civil Service.  It delivers on a key Programme for Government commitment and represents a fundamental new vision and direction for the Civil Service.  The Plan outlines the practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service, providing a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland.

Overall, I am satisfied that we have made very strong progress to date on the delivery of reform and that we have also set out a clear and ambitious reform agenda for the Civil and Public Service over the coming years.