Vol. 570 No. 2
309 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the key indicators of input, output, outcome and performance which his Department monitors as part of the strategic management initiative; and the trend in these indicators in each year since 1997. [18690/03]
The strategic management initiative is built around six key organisational themes. These include a greater openness and accountability, a mission of quality customer service and the efficient and fair operation of simplified regulations. Since its first published strategy, my Department continues to set out its objectives and programmes and publishes these in accordance with the Public Service Management Act. The goals outlined in the strategy statements are incorporated into the business plans of each unit, with performance indicators set by each as part of the planning process.
The Department's annual reports of 1999, 2000 and 2001 reported on progress. The trend since 1997 has been one of growing openness and transparency, with major structural reform taking place. In dealing with regulatory reform, the trend has been to place the operations of the Department on a legislative footing, replacing the administrative rules that were set out, usually by circular, prior to this. A number of independent appeals procedures are now in place and where these exist, there is clarity on entitlement to resources and the allocation of those resources. Under the terms of the Sustaining Progress agreement, the Department is committed to producing a customer charter which defines service standards and enforces the Department's commitment to providing service to customers in accordance with the 12 QCS principles. Performance measured against the targets set will be published in annual reports from 2004.
