My Department has central responsibility for Civil Service learning and development policies and supports for all levels up to and including the Senior Public Service (SPS). The SPS Team predominantly focuses on those at the most senior levels, working in close collaboration with OneLearning colleagues who provide training that is common across the Civil Service with a particular focus on CO-PO level. Learning and Development Units across the Civil Service also source and procure tailored learning and development solutions for their organisations.
The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is a recognised college of the National University and operates as a publicly-funded organisation under the ageis of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDPDR).
The IPA focuses exclusively on public sector development and provides supports to public bodies, such as education, training, and research to a broad range of public bodies, including Government Departments, Local Authorities, the HSE, etc.
The Government Decision (June 2010), provided for the establishment of the Senior Public Service and included the intention to extend the focus to the broader public service over time to cover non-commercial state-sponsored bodies, local authorities, and the health and education services.
The Senior Public Service (SPS) was established in 2011, in recognition of the need for effective, unified leadership at senior levels of the civil and public service to deliver on key challenges facing the country and envisaged:
- the creation of a Senior Public Service to encompass top level management across Civil Service in a common management pool;
- a structured development programme and mobility between organisations to support a whole of government philosophy of public service management;
- a focus on Civil Service first – but then to encompass the broader senior public service leadership at some point.
In line with the ongoing reform of public services, the optimisation of shared services across the Government sector continues in many areas such as ICT, procurement, payroll, financial and HR services. Senior officials in my Department are working with the IPA to transfer the operational activities of the SPS and OneLearning in (DPENDPDR) to the IPA.
This change will support an integrated strategic approach to providing best in class professional learning and leadership development across the public service. The pre transfer phase is now under way and includes consideration of all requirements; procurement, staffing etc. and good progress has been made so far.
The demand for professional learning and leadership development is continually increasing within the context of a highly challenging public service operating environment. The integration of existing services provided by DPENDPDR with the IPA will provide for a specialist learning and development focus to support further development across the public service. DPENDPDR will continue in its governance role of the IPA.
