Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Strategic Management Initiative.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

342 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the key indicators of input, output, outcome and performance which his Department monitors as part of the strategic management initiative; and the trend in these indicators in each year since 1997. [18691/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which was established in June 2002, comprises the communications and energy functions of the former Department of Public Enterprise, the broadcasting functions of the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and all the functions of the former Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.

The key indicators of output, outcome and performance in respect of each of these functions were set out in the three-year strategy statements published in 1998 and 2001 by the former Departments of Public Enterprise, Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the Marine and Natural Resources. Progress on implementing objectives and strategies set out in the strategy statements has been reported on each year in the annual reports of the Departments in question. Progress in 2002 will be reported on in the annual report of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources which is due to be published shortly. I will arrange for a copy of the report for 2002 to be forwarded to the Deputy.

In accordance with the requirements of the Public Service Management Act, the Department has prepared a new strategy statement as a framework for action for the period between 2003 and 2005. The strategy statement, which will be published shortly, sets out the goals, strategies and key performance indicators required for the successful delivery of modernisation and sectoral policy priorities up to 2005. Performance on delivery of the objectives and strategies set out in the new statement of strategy will be measured and reported on in the annual divisional business planning cycle and in the annual reports of the Department to be published in each of the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. I will arrange for a copy of the new strategy statement to be forwarded to the Deputy.