Michael Noonan
Question:17 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has for the reform of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Service Reform.
Jim Kemmy
Question:24 Mr. Kemmy asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans for further reforms in the Civil Service following the publication of the White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 24 together.
It is assumed that Deputy Kemmy is referring to the White Paper "Serving the Country Better" which was published in September, 1985.
This White Paper brought together various measures to be taken to improve efficiency and quality of service in the public service. The process of improving organisation, systems and procedures is an ongoing one, and a substantial programme of developments is under way in relation to improved management and personnel systems, increased use of information technology, re-location of Government offices and reviews of efficiency in various departments. Among important current developments are the introduction of administrative budgets, which will give new freedoms to departmental managements and promote economy and efficiency. This is a major initiative which will have a significant effect on the management of the Civil Service. In addition there are the Efficiency Audit Group, who are conducting high-level reviews of a number of Departments.
(Limerick East): Would the Minister not agree that not a single initiative has been taken to reform the Civil Service in any way since the then Department of the Public Service was brought under the control of the Minister for Finance in 1987?
I would not accept that at all. I have taken what I believe to be the very new initiative in relation to the administrative budgets, starting from 1991, 1992 and 1993 where Departments will have responsibility for the management of their own administrative parts of their Estimates on the basis of giving the Exchequer a 2 per cent reduction for each of the three years. It gives them flexibility as to whether they want to save money on numbers, promotions or whatever. It takes them away from the heavy hand of the Department of Finance and the Public Service. It is a move in the right direction. We have also taken to step to implement the policy on merit payments for assistnat secretaries. We hope that when that is in operation in that respect it will be subsequently devolved down the line. Information technology is widespread throughout the service. The Efficiency Audit Group look at every Department to see where efficiencies can be carried out and where savings can be made. We are continuing the decentralisation programme, and a few additions to that programme have been announced. Staff numbers were frozen from 1987 onwards but now that the numbers have settled down we are beginning to fill some of the spots that need filling though we are holding a tight rein on the numbers back to 1977 figures. Management and development training is going on at a very fast rate and performance relates to pay. We have various other commissions who have reported on, for instance, how health funding should continue in the future. There is an ongoing programme of new initiatives. I am trying to let the people in the system manage and to lift the morale which has been fairly low for some time.
I will allow Deputy Noonan a brief question. I want to dispose of the last question.
(Limerick East): Would the Minister not agree that practically everything he has listed in the House is an initiative by the Department of Finance to improve control of the country's finances and that it has very little to do with the wider question of reform of the public service? Has the Minister any proposals in regard to the question of reform of the public service or will he produce a White Paper on the matter to ensure that morale is raised in the Civil Service, that initiative is restored to the Civil Service and that proper career structures are implemented for civil servants? The Minister should not have just outlined the heavy hand of the Department of Finance on the public service, and a series of initiatives. What is the Minister going to do about the Civil Service?
I thought I was reducing the heavy hand, not increasing it, on the Civil Service.
Mr. Noonan
(Limerick): Each initiative is a finance initiative.
It is time each Government Department stood on their own feet and not used the Department of Finance as an excuse for not doing things. They now have the responsibility to manage, and they have accountability for their actions so they can no longer use excuses. This is what management is about. This is handing down the opportunity to people to manage, to be able to motivate their own staff, to be able to promote them or not to promote them, to introduce savings and efficiency under the system. I thought the Deputy was interested in seeing money being saved on behalf of the taxpayer and the Exchequer.
Question No. 18, please.
(Limerick East): Apart from what the Minister has outlined and which are Department of Finance initiatives, has he any proposals——
We had that question.
(Limerick East):——that emanated the former Department of the Public Service, and, if so, will he publish those proposals?
I have to call Question No. 18.
Some of the initiatives I have mentioned emanated in the Department of the Public Service.