Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
105 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if a management information framework, as recommended by the Mullarkey committee, has been put in place in his Department; and if he will explain the way it works. [15038/04]
View answerThe principal aim of the management information framework, MIF, initiative is that Departments and Government offices systematically produce and use management information, both financial and non-financial, to monitor and where possible improve their performance in achieving their objectives. The report of the working group on the accountability of Secretaries General and accounting officers, the Mullarkey report, recommended, inter alia, that Secretaries General give priority to the implementation of MIF in their Departments.
The first requirement of the MIF initiative is that Departments have modern financial management systems. The Government has directed that installation of such systems be completed by Departments by the end of 2004. My Department completed installation of such a system at the end of last year and the new system is producing improved information on financial performance. As well as being available as appropriate for use by line managers, this information is summarised into a financial report submitted to my Department's management advisory committee, MAC, each month.
The next stage of the MIF initiative is to decide on the non-financial performance information required and to ensure mechanisms are in place to produce it, to design management reports which will combine that information with the financial information now available, and to produce such reports systematically for use by line managers and the MAC. My Department is commencing work on this stage of the initiative.
