Departmental Priorities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Ceisteanna (231)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

231 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the five measurable performance indicators which he regards as target of greatest priority within his Department; the way in which this measure has changed in each year since 1997; his views on whether confining priorities to five indicators gives too partial a picture of Departmental priorities; and if he will indicate the movement over the period 1997 to 2004 of other primary indicators of performance. [26710/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

The priorities for my Department, which was established in mid-2002, are articulated in the programme for Government and encompassed in the goals and objectives set out in my Department's statement of strategy 2003-05 which is available on the Department's website. The performance indicators to measure delivery against these goals and objectives are also set out in the statement of strategy. Progress is reported in my Department's first annual report for 2002-03 which is also available on the Department's website.

In view of the three large sectoral areas for which I have responsibility, I do not believe that selecting five measurable performance indicators would give a true reflection of the range of policies and services being delivered in pursuit of the achievement of my Department's overall goals and objectives. Work has recently commenced on the development of a new statement of strategy in the context of which these goals, objectives and performance indicators will be reviewed and revised as appropriate.