Róisín Shortall
Question:30 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the changes, if any, he has made, or proposes to make, in the organisation and structure of his Department consequent to its change of name. [17291/97]
Written Answers. - Departmental Reorganisation.
Michael Ferris
Question:31 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the extent to which the SMI has been implemented in his Department; the plans, if any, he has to progress the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17289/97]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:53 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the changes, if any, made or proposed to be made, to his Department's mission statement to reflect its change of title. [17287/97]
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:64 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department intends to publish a mission statement; if so, if he will give details of the content when published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17290/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 31, 53 and 64 together.
On 26 June last, the Taoiseach announced his intention to make some changes in departmental responsibilities and organisation to reflect and emphasise new priorities in Government. These included the establishment of a new Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, which also includes responsibility for local development and the national drugs strategy team.
The establishment of my new Department essentially involved:
—the transfer of the trade division and associated staff from the former Department of Tourism and Trade to the new Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and
—the transfer of the sports and local development sections, and associated staff, to my Department from the Departments of Education and the Department of the Taoiseach respectively.
Over the past few months, I have been working with my officials, in consultation with the other Departments affected by the changes, to ensure a smooth transition of work, to provide suitable accommodation and resources for the new staff and functions and to ensure a coherent internal organisational structure which will adequately reflect the importance which the Government attaches to tourism, sport and recreation. Most of this work has now been completed.
The Strategic Management Initiative is already under way in the Department and priority is being given to improving quality of customer service and on a strategy statement incorporating,inter alia, a mission statement. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, work has already commenced in this regard. This strategy statement will be furnished to me by 1 March 1998 so that I may lay it before each House of the Oireachtas within 60 days thereafter in the form approved by me. At this stage it would clearly be inappropriate for me to speculate as to the likely contents of the new strategy statement, particularly as the formulation of the statement is, in the first instance, a matter for the Secretary-General, of my Department under section 4 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997.