asked the Minister for the Public Service (a) if he will give a summary of the reforms in the public service which have been carried out since 5 July 1977 and (b) what reforms he envisages being carried out in the public service in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Service Reforms.
29.
Since the change of Government major reforms have been carried out in the public service through the establishment of the Department of Economic Planning and Development, the institution of Ministers of State and the transfer of functions relating to energy from the Department of Transport and Power to the Department of Industry and Commerce. These changes have been effected through legislation or statutory order and have, therefore, been apparent to Deputies. At the same time the Department of the Public Service have been working on a general programme of reform, the fruits of which will begin to appear in the coming year.
Arrangements have been made for the establishment of specialist planning units in all Departments as a first step in the provision of staff support systems in the functions of planning, finance, organisation and personnel. It is hoped that such planning units will be operational in the near future and that the specialist units in the other functions will be established in the medium term.
The Government have also given detailed consideration to the lack of progress made in recent years in the application of the concept of separation of responsibility for policy and execution in the organisation of Departments of State. They concluded that this lack of progress had been, in a large measure, due to the absence of political commitment and they, accordingly, directed that steps should be taken to apply the concept to all Departments of State as soon as possible. To this end, Departments were asked to prepare draft plans for their reorganisation early in the current year. Analysis of these plans and of the steps required to rationalise the functions of all Departments and to separate as far as practicable responsibility for policy and execution is proceeding. The objective is to apply the basic essentials of the necessary restructuring of Departments within the coming year.
In addition, special steps are being taken to promote public service mobility with civil service mobility as a short term target; staff development and training programmes are being extended; the promotion of cost effective administration is being furthered through the expansion of the resources being directed to automatic data processing and the continuous review of structures and systems to eliminate waste and provide the most effective and efficient administrative machinery.
All the foregoing reforms should lead to an integrated and rationalised administrative machine at the service of Government and of the community. In fostering the maximum discretion for individual agencies, co-ordination will be ensured through the staff support functions linking in to Government through the central Departments of Finance, Public Service and Economic Planning and Development. In all aspects of the reform the full co-operation of the public service staff interests is vital.
I want to ask two questions. The first deals with the reorganisation of Departments. When the smoke has cleared away from the renaming and chopping around of sections, by and large is it not the case that the same men, sitting in the same lino-covered offices are doing the same jobs and reporting to the same superiors as they were two years ago?
Nonsense.
I put it to the Minister of State that that is the case.
I am saying it is nonsense.
That was admitted by the Minister for Economic Planning and Development in his own case. So far as the office holders are concerned, would it not be true to say, and a fair comment, that progress has been backwards instead of forwards? I look at the other side of the House and find that two years ago for less money and with a far less grand title I was doing the work which Deputy P. Lalor and Deputy D. Andrews are doing between them——
(Interruptions.)
That is their idea of work sharing.
Order, please.
There is no doubt that they created a 30 per cent increase in jobs.
(Interruptions.)
In his reply the Minister of State adverted to consideration of reforms. Would he tell us if decentralisation of the public service, particularly to the west and north west, forms a major part of that consideration?
I would hope it would be part of it.
Is it part of it?
I would hope so.
Besides changing the name of the Department of Local Government to the Department of the Environment what else has happened in that Department?
In which Department?
The Department of the Environment.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper. Private Notice Question by Deputy Harte.
Before moving the Private Notice Question might I give you notice that, because of public disquiet and widespread rumour in Donegal surrounding the circumstances of the armed raid in the town of Donegal on Tuesday of last week, I propose to raise this matter on the adjournment?