Ivana Bacik
Question:25. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [20422/23]
View answerDepartmental Functions
Questions (25)
Written answers
The role of the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government, in fulfilling Programme for Government objectives to help create a socially inclusive and fair society.
Specifically, the Division assists the work of the newly established Cabinet Committees, as follows:
• the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services and the associated senior officials' group, oversee Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, with a particular focus on equality and integration, and public service reform;
• the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and the associated senior officials' group, oversee Programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education, including further and higher education, with a specific focus on child poverty and well-being, and tackling local area disadvantage;
• the Cabinet Committee on Health and the associated senior officials' group, oversee Programme for Government commitments regarding health and health system reforms including Sláintecare, reform of disability services and development of mental health services. This Cabinet Committee will also maintain an overview of public health, including the impact of COVID-19 and the cross-government response;
• the Cabinet Committee on the Humanitarian Response to Ukraine and the associated senior officials’ group, oversee the whole-of-Government humanitarian response to assist people from Ukraine who have sought temporary protection here.
The Division also:
• assists the work of the Civil Service Management Board which oversees Civil Service Renewal and other matters
• has departmental oversight of the National Economic and Social Council
• advances the Dublin North-East Inner City Initiative, including through assisting the work of the Programme Implementation Board, programme office, and oversight group
• has responsibility for managing the Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office which is bringing strategic leadership and enhanced accountability to these areas
• leads on the oversight of A Policing Service for our Future
• assists public service reform through membership of the public service leadership board and public service management group
• provides me with briefing and speech material on social policy and public service reform issues, and
• participates in relevant interdepartmental committees and other groups.