Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
242 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action taken by her Department on each recommendation of the PA consultancy report on the implementation of the strategic management initiative. [15033/04]
View answerThe PA evaluation of the strategic management initiative was published in March 2002. It's overall finding was that the Civil Service in 2002 was more effective than a decade previously. However, it pointed to the need for more accelerated progress on human resource management, financial management and information systems management.
The overall approach to modernisation in the Civil Service in the light of the PA recommendations is set out in sections 20 and 22 of the social partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, and this has formed the basis for my Department's own approach as set out in its modernisation action plan.
Progress on the modernisation programme in the wider Civil Service is set out in the Sectoral Progress Report, which was submitted to the Civil Service performance verification group in November 2003. The report is available on the Department of Finance's website.
My Department has identified five key priority areas in its own action plan. These are: the use of new technology; greater flexibility in the way services are delivered; implementation of a new control programme; a range of changes in the HR area including greater use of competitive promotions; and development of better financial management and information systems. Progress has been made under all of these headings.
Priorities under the heading of new technology include implementation of the Department's new service delivery model, SDM, and associated projects. The SDM involves the development of a new generation of IT systems which facilitates customer-centered services and also supports the e-government strategy. This is interlinked with other technology projects, such as the civil registration modernisation programme, the public service broker, the REACH inter-agency messaging service and the development of the public service identity. There has been substantial progress in each of these areas.
In the area of flexible delivery of service the key element is the phased localisation of the one parent family payment scheme. In effect, this means that the administration of the scheme will move from one central office to the Department's local office network. The anticipated outcomes are better service to the customer, better control and easier access for lone parents to the employment supports and other supports available in local offices.
The third priority is control. The Department's existing control strategy entails a mix of measures to minimise risks of fraud and eliminate incorrect payments. Implementation of a new control strategy, involving greater emphasis on risk assessment and risk management and a more focused control approach will provide for a more effective and efficient allocation of resources with staff deployed and budgets expended on more effective control activity. This process is well under way.
Our fourth priority relates to human resources management. Recent progress in this regard includes: production of a Human Resources Strategy 2003-2005; upgrade of the human resource management computer system; production of the gender equality action plan 2003-2005; completion and publication of a report, prepared by a widely based partnership based group, on issues affecting staff with disabilities; production of detailed statistical analysis of absenteeism levels; completion of the rollout of performance management and development training; and substantial progress in the development of new policies on promotion, mobility-relocation, attendance management and devolution of HR functions.
The final priority relates to the area of financial management and in particular the management information framework, MIF, project. I am providing a comprehensive progress report on this project in a reply to a separate question, Question No. 243.
Substantial progress has been made in my Department on the key elements of the Government's modernisation programme, in the light of the PA recommendations and other developments since then.
