Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Systems.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

43 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the interim report submitted to the Government on 18 May 1999 of the steering group established by his Department on systems reviews of the Department of Agriculture and Food; the main findings of the report; the steps, if any, to be taken as a result of its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13792/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I submitted the interim report of the steering group on systems review of the Department of Agriculture and Food to the Government on 18 May. The work of the steering group continues and I intend to bring its final report to the attention of the Government as soon as possible after it becomes available, with a view to taking appropriate action. In the meanwhile the Government has decided that the Department of Agriculture and Food should examine the interim report and report back to the Government with plans for the implementation of the group's recommendations within six weeks.

The interim report confirmed that the controls, systems and procedures have improved very significantly since the late 1980s and early 1990s and outlined a number of specific ways in which the Department of Agriculture and Food 's performance in the future could be improved.

It stressed that the Department of Agriculture and Food be particularly conscious of the need for financial and management control and awareness of risk in the area aid scheme. It recommended the need to identify and quantify the risks associated with new schemes and said efforts should be made to ensure that changes at EU level take account of the characteristics of the Irish system of agriculture and Irish administration. It made recommendations that priority be given to a separate study for the development of an information technology strategy. It suggested that resources be made available to the Department's internal audit unit to ensure its capacity to undertake audits of computer systems. It recommended that auditors' recommendations be implemented speedily, particularly those of the internal audit unit. It advised of the need to further develop an integrated human resource management strategy and the implementation of cross-stream team working arrangements. It recommended the strengthening of the internal management services unit. Recommendations were made to examine inspection procedures at plant and farm level which would lead to more widespread use of unannounced inspections with priority given to areas of high risk. It also made suggestions as to the desirability of having legal staff within the Department to deal with the volume of litigation in which it is involved.

The Department of Agriculture and Food faces many challenges in aligning its systems with the needs of the future and in ensuring a high level of service to its clients in a context of appropriate controls and mechanisms for accountability. This interim report is one step in that process – I expect that it, together with the final report, will be very useful to the Government and to the Department in setting priorities for the way ahead.