Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sustaining Progress.

Joan Burton

Question:

89 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to date in regard to the implementation of the Civil Service action plan drawn up to meet the requirements of the benchmarking process within his own Department and within the public service generally; if the Civil Service performance verification group has decided that the level of progress warrants the payment of the general round and the benchmarking award on 1 January 2004; if payments will be withheld in any sector due to failure to make adequate progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30090/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

Detailed progress reports on the commitments given by the Department in complying with the Sustaining Progress agreement were sent to the Civil Service performance verification group, CSPVG, in October. Among the commitments are HR reform, financial management, regulatory reform and quality customer service. In line with the commitments on HR reform, one year contracts for all new staff will be in place from 1 January next year.

Meetings are scheduled with the staff unions to move towards merit-based promotion. A modern financial management system was implemented during the summer ahead of schedule. Further modules are scheduled for 2004. A major e-Government project is taking place with the development of web-based interactive services for school based staff paid through the Department's payroll systems. This will be piloted in 2004.

Large scale structural reform measures include the establishment of the State Examinations Commission, putting in place the National Council for Special Education and the roll out of a regional office structure. As agreed with the Department of Finance, a series of expenditure reviews are taking place in areas as diverse as the operation of the home school community liaison scheme, operation of the education centres and the minor works grant for primary school buildings. Quality customer service initiatives will see the implementation of customer charters for key service delivery areas in 2004. My Department has met with the CSPVG and has provided extensive documentation on the undertakings given and the progress made to date. The CSPVG has not as yet announced its decision.

The education sector performance verification group is completing its assessment of progress on the first stage of the implementation of action plans in respect of institutions in the wider education sector. The group is currently in the process of finalising its report to the Secretary General. Just two institutions, namely, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and Finglas Child Adolescent Centre have not yet submitted progress reports for assessment. Payment will not be made in respect of those institutions until such time as the necessary reports have been submitted and assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Sustaining Progress agreement.