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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Strategic Management Initiative.

John Bruton

Ceist:

195 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the updated achievement of each target set for his Department under the strategic management initiative; if the targets in question are sufficiently measurable, quantifiable and focused on outcomes rather than activities to be an effective tool of real accountability; and if not, if he proposes to refine the targets. [5182/02]

My Department's strategic management initiative, SMI, targets have been set out in the Department's modernisation programme, which was prepared and is being implemented in the context of requirements under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The Department's strategy statement 2001-2004, Community, Security and Equality, which I launched in December 2001, sets out strategies to achieve the modernisation programme in areas such as planning and performance, training and development, customer service, IT and e-government, and financial management. The strategy statement also sets out a range of strategies across the policy and operational remit of the Department. I might add that the statement also sets out a record of significant achievements in the Justice and Equality areas since I took office as Minister.

In relation to the modernisation programme, in March 2001 my Department submitted a report on the Department's performance indicators under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to the Civil Service quality assurance group – CSQAG. The purpose in setting out these indicators, which was the Department's first initiative of this type, was to ensure that targets for the Department's strategic management of the organisation and its resources were measurable, quantifiable and focused on outcomes. In this regard the CSQAG approved the Department's report in July 2001. The Department is required to report back to the CSQAG in May 2002 on progress in relation to the approved performance indicators.
Key recent achievements under the programme include: publication of Department's third strategy statement 2001-04 in December 2001; publication of Department's new customer service action plan in December 2001; roll-out of performance management and development system, PMDS, 2000-02; analysis of the Department's training and development needs identified under the PMDS completed in October 2001; and equality of opportunity targets set out in the strategy statement.
In the period prior to the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the following key achievements under the SMI were recorded by my Department: first strategy statement was published in 1996 and the second in 1998; first customer action plan was published in 1997 and internal and external customer panels were established; partnership structures have been established; the delivery of IT services across the justice and equality sector; the development of financial systems; and a policy research capability was put in place.
In the wider justice and equality sector, the Department has been implementing a wide ranging organisation change programme, which in recent years has seen a number of new organisations established to deliver criminal justice, refugee, equality and other services. The purpose of this programme is to devolve authority and decision-making to clearly defined and accountable bodies, strengthening management structures and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the services being provided. In this regard, the Department is involved in the extension of the modernisation programme to the organisations in the justice and equality sector.
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