Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2013
116. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration will be given to introducing or appointing a liaison officer or team in each Government Department and public body whose function would be to improve communication and consultation both within and between Government bodies and public bodies to ensure use of resources and best possible service delivery. [3460/13]
View answerThe Government’s Public Service Reform Plan, published in November, 2011 includes commitments to enhance communication within and between public bodies to ensure that resources are used as efficiently as possible and that the customer is at the centre of service planning and delivery.
The Government’s Public Service Reform Plan also places a strong emphasis on the need for effective governance structures to ensure delivery of the Reform Plan and to maintain oversight of the reform programmes of Departments and Sectors. It should be noted that engaging with the citizen and improving customer services are key and ongoing considerations for all Government Departments and Agencies in this regard.
Communication and effective governance structures are important in implementing the Public Service Reform Plan. An Advisory Group of Secretaries General has been established, which provides support and advice on strategic / policy issues to the Cabinet Committee on Public Service Reform. In addition, a Reform and Delivery Board, primarily comprising Assistant Secretaries responsible for leading reform in each Department / Office, meets regularly to oversee and monitor the delivery of Public Service Reform at a strategic level and provide assurance to my Department and to the Cabinet Committee that Public Service Reform is being successfully delivered. These structures, in addition to exiting cross-organisational groups and networks, facilitate communication and information sharing across Government.
The Public Service Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council was also established last year as a representative forum for senior managers responsible for ICT and/or eGovernment from across the Civil and Public Service. The Council discusses key ICT and eGovernment issues, and provides expert input to decisions and actions aimed at maximising the positive impact of these on public service modernisation and customer service. A separate group, the Data Sharing Clearing House, has been established to deal with issues as they arise on the improved access to and sharing of data across the system.
In line with best practice governance, Project Boards have been established for many of the projects which are being implemented under the Reform Plan, for example for the various shared services projects. In addition, each of the actions in the overall Reform Plan is assigned to a lead official, with Senior Responsible Owners appointed to lead the Major Projects which have been identified as being of major strategic importance.
In addition, each Department / major Office has its own Change Delivery Team to manage and drive the reform process at organisational / sectoral level.
The Reform and Delivery Office in my Department monitors the progress being made in making reform plans a reality, including driving cross-organisational cooperation on key projects. It also works closely with each of the main sectors to ensure that they have appropriate governance arrangements and structures in place to drive and support the delivery of their own organisational and sectoral reform programmes.
In conclusion, this Government is strongly committed to its ambitious programme of Public Service Reform and I believe that a robust governance framework is in place to ensure its successful implementation. Reform of our public services is an ongoing process and effective communications are essential to ensure the success of the reform programme.
