Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2015
20. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reform the performance measurement system in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26116/15]
View answerThe Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) composed of Secretaries-General of Government Departments and Heads of Civil Service Offices has been assigned a central role under the Civil Service Renewal Plan for reforming performance management in the civil service and for strengthening the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS). The Deputy may wish to note that management of staff performance in the wider public service is a matter for each individual sector.
Action 11 in the Civil Service Renewal Plan, launched in October 2014, is to 'strengthen the performance management process'. This action, which is strongly related to a range of other critical HR objectives in the Plan, is aimed at fulfilling the commitment to 'maximising the performance and potential of all Civil Service employees and organisations' and includes, in particular, the following:
- replacement of the current performance ratings scheme for the 2016 PMDS cycle with a new model of performance assessment that is focussed on identifying excellent performance, leadership potential and underperformance and that encourages regular and constructive feedback;
- development of the integration of PMDS with learning and development through, for example, focussed training for managers on the effective management of performance;
- continuation of the simplification of the performance management process by building on the ePMDS electronic system deployed in 2014 through the development and rollout of an eProbation system to manage the performance of new entrants.
A key challenge across the civil service is the delivery of high performance and to fully engage staff and managers in the management and improvement of performance. The Civil Service Management Board will in responding to this challenge continue to focus on seeking to enhance how performance is managed in the civil service. In this context, the CSMB will - consistent with the appropriate action in the Renewal Plan - also oversee the introduction of a specific performance management system for Assistant Secretary grade in the civil service.
