Mary O'Rourke
Ceist:3 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach the steps, if any, that have been taken to implement the Strategic Management Initiative. [5559/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Strategic Management Initiative.
Implementation of the Strategic Management Initiative is well under way, both at the level of the individual Departments and offices and, centrally, through Government consideration of an overall programme of change in the public service. Preliminary statements of strategy are now being revised and finalised. Statements will be published for all Departments and offices during this year. The SMI will be extended to the wider public service during 1996. I understand that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, is launching the SMI to local authorities later this month.
The second report to Government of the co-ordinating group of secretaries, established under the Strategic Management Initiative, setting out a comprehensive framework for change, has now been completed. The Government will announce in the near future a comprehensive programme for reform of the public service. This programme comprises a number of initiatives within an overall framework setting out a strategic direction for the future. The initiatives will address a number of matters such as greater delegation and devolution and improved accountability within the Civil Service, improvements in service quality and delivery, regulatory reform, better co-ordination across Departments and improved personnel and financial management systems.
Does the Minister foresee any difficulty in promulgating the Strategic Management Initiative in view of the way the Civil Service has been treated by the Minister for Finance, who has responsibility for the public service?
Following discussions with the Dáil Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs, it is hoped that, at a stage appropriate to the publication, the Opposition parties will be briefed on the content. Detailed consultations will be held with the relevant unions regarding the implementation of the reform process.
Is it the Government's intention to publish the individual strategic management initiatives for particular Departments and, if so, when will they be published? In some Departments the initiatives have been implemented since the end of 1994. Is it not important to inform the House and the public of these initiatives?
I do not have any objection in principle. If there are any difficulties in practice I will have to reserve the Government's position on this. When the Government's public service reform proposals are put forward, which will probably be in May, all these matters will be for public debate. There will be a great deal of initiatives and worthwhile reform resulting from the process.
The strategic management initiative for any one Department is a major document. It is important for the development of that Department, the economy and the country. I am not asking about the global initiative which will contain a little of everything but the initiatives for particular Departments. The initiative for the Department of Social Welfare is completed and I have a copy. When will the Government publish them so that the public can see where Departments are going?
This is clearly repetition.
No, it is not. It is a specific question.
I estimate that the launch of the document will take place in May. If there are no difficulties in practice, the individual documents will also be released. I have to reserve my position on this because some Departments deal with important security matters. The matter needs to be considered on a Department by Department basis.
Has any progress been made on opening the closed door policy which exists for members of professional bodies within the Civil Service who are disbarred from seeking promotion? I have raised this on numerous occasions.
The Deputy is raising a new matter.
That is a separate question and can be addressed in the debate following publication of the Government's proposals.