Vol. 508 No. 1
137 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he has used section 12 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, which allows for appropriate action to be taken in a structured way on cross departmental issues; and the areas of work of his Department which are touching on the work of other Departments in respect of which cross departmental arrangements might be appropriate. [17356/99]
The Department of the Taoiseach Statement of Strategy 1998-2001 sets out the approach taken by the Department in relation to cross departmental issues. The major driving force for finding new ways of working on a cross-functional basis are the strategic results areas reflected in Government policy. These are issues of a cross-cutting nature such as crime, drugs and children's needs, which require a co-ordinated response both at policy and implementation levels across a range of Government Departments, agencies and voluntary groups. They must also take effect at both central and local level.
Work is ongoing on developing new approaches to effectively address issues which cross a number of Departments and agencies. Examples now in place include contributions to the national drugs strategy team, the SMI cross departmental team and the team which provides the secretariat to the Cabinet committee on infrastructural development and public private partnerships.
The departmental strategy statements approved by Ministers last year and laid before the House set out the foundation for future work in this area. The SMI implementation group is considering appropriate approaches in relation to cross departmental issues.
I have not to date used section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 but the issue of putting these teams on a statutory basis is kept under review.
