The purpose of section 12 of the Act is to provide, as necessary, for the assignment by Ministers or Ministers of State of responsibility to civil servants for cross-departmental issues and the associated accountability arrangements. The Act also requires, at official level, that the heads of Departments and offices ensure that appropriate arrangements are put in place to facilitate an effective response to these issues.
Orders have not so far been made under section 12 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997. However, I am advised that, to support him in his role, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children, Deputy Fahey, intends to make an order establishing a cross-departmental team of senior civil servants from his Department and the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and Education and Science.
As the Deputy is aware, the strategy statements of Departments and offices, which were prepared for the first time under the 1997 Act, were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by 1 May.
I am arranging that these statements of Departments and offices now be reviewed to identify key cross-departmental issues and the appropriate arrangements to address them. The question of making orders under section 12 will be considered further in that context.
