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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Performance Indicators.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

135 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the key performance indicators being used by his Department; the performance in respect of these for the past five years; and if a commentary is published on these performance indicators linking them to objectives and activities. [20303/02]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

136 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the key performance indicators of the agencies which his Department funds; the performance in respect of these for the past five years; and if these agencies publish a commentary on these performance indicators linking them to objectives and activities. [20321/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.

My Department operates at the heart of Government and, therefore, is involved in the key policy priorities of the Government of the day. The last Government published a series of progress reports on the implementation of its programme.

The strategic objectives of my Department are set out in the Department's strategy statement. The Department's key overall strategic objectives remain constant, that is, supporting the Taoiseach and Government of the day. These strategic objectives are primarily reflected in the Department's work on the following key national priorities: Northern Ireland; European Union and international affairs; economic and social policy; social partnership; public service modernisation and the information society and e-government. The work in these areas is supported by a further strategic priority of corporate support services.

The Department employs a range of mechanisms and indicators in order to measure performance and progress against objectives, as set out in the strategy statement. It has produced annual progress reports since 1998 outlining progress made against the key priorities identified in the strategy statement. It has also contributed to progress reports which have been published on a wide range of cross-Departmental initiatives in which my Department has participated.

My Department has also developed performance indicators, in accordance with the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, PPF, in relation to the public service modernisation programme. As with all Departments, an independent quality assurance group assessed the achievement of the stated objectives, as measured by the performance indicators, in April of this year. The group acknowledged the progress made by my Department and consequently approved the payment of the final phase of 4% under the PPF to the staff of my Department.
Performance indicators have been developed by the National Economic and Social Development Office, NESDO, which incorporates the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, NCPP, and were introduced in April 2001. None of these agencies have to date published a commentary on these performance indicators but active consideration is being given to doing so in the future.
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