Jan O'Sullivan
Question:50 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will give a progress report in relation to his commitment as part of the SMI to develop a system of performance management in the Civil Service. [9517/98]
Written Answers - Strategic Management Initiative.
The development of an effective performance management system is essential to optimising performance at all levels in the Civil Service. To this end consultants were engaged in 1997 to advise on and assist an interdepartmental group, set up under the strategic management initiative, in designing an appropriate system for use in the Civil Service. The consultants completed their work at end November 1997. The arrangements for implementing the proposed system, which will involve significant changes to current practices for managing performance, are now being finalised, including the arrangements for consultations with the Civil Service unions.
Implementation will be undertaken in accordance with the participative approach provided for under Partnership 2000. There has already been considerable consultation with and involvement by staff and their unions in the design and development of the system. In particular, the views of staff on how performance is and should be managed were sought in a sample survey of staff throughout the Civil Service. In addition, two project groups, representative of staff in all grades and the unions, worked with the consultants on the design of the system.