Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
150 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the action taken by his Department on each recommendation of the PA consultancy report on the implementation of the strategic management initiative. [15026/04]
View answerMy Department's modernisation and change management strategies are fully informed by the recommendations of the PA consultancy report on the evaluation of the strategic management initiative. Progress as benchmarked against the PA recommendations has been significant overall. My Department's statement of strategy 2003 to 2005 commits the organisation to implementing all strands of the modernisation programme in an integrated way with the objective of positioning the Department as a results-focused organisation, characterised by devolved responsibility, innovative thinking and best practice in financial management information, HR management and information technology.
The achievements to date and ongoing developments are encapsulated in my Department's action plan under Sustaining Progress, which was published in June 2003. This plan is published on my Department's website, www.dcmnr.gov.ie, and the Department of Finance website, www.finance.ie The Department’s first progress report on the action plan is also available on the above websites. The second progress report has been submitted to the performance verification group, PVG, and will be available on the websites following a decision by the PVG.
I would highlight a number of areas where the Department is particularly well advanced. The current rollout of a comprehensive knowledge management strategy will build on existing shared information systems and the departmental intranet; implementation of the management information framework and key performance indicators framework, which are on target for end 2004; progressive devolution of financial and HR responsibilities to managers; structured business planning and reporting, with quarterly reviews of business plans by the management committee; a comprehensive ICT strategy which continues to deliver a range of new information systems, technology infrastructure and eGovernment initiatives; a firmly embedded performance management and development system; and a comprehensive training and development programme with 5% of payroll allocated to training in 2004. My Department has had in place for a number of years 100% competitive merit based selection processes for promotion for all administrative and professional grades and has published a comprehensive HR strategy.
