Public Sector Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2012

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Ceisteanna (273)

Simon Harris

Ceist:

277 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the tangible results that have been delivered in his Department through the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement; the implementation plan in place in his Department to ensure reforms envisaged through this agreement are delivered on; if he is satisfied with the pace of reform in his Department and the agencies under his remit; the further reforms the taxpayer and Irish citizens may expect to witness in the running of his Department and its agencies through the public sector reform agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31586/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The Public Service Agreement (Croke Park) 2010-2014 Action Plan for change in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Non-Commercial Semi-state Agencies (NCSAs) and the progress report for the period April 2011 to March 2012 are available on my Department's website at the following linkwww.transport.ie/Public Sector Action Plan. This outlines the results achieved to date including: Savings achieved through the reductions in the pay bill associated with reduced staff numbers: Significant improvements in staff attendance, with a 21% reduction on sick leave absences achieved in 2011 compared to 2010, Substantial progress of roll-out of web based business support systems both in the Department and the NCSAs during the period, with associated change of work practices, improved knowledge sharing and reduced duplicated effort.

The Department and NCSA's integrated reform delivery plan has specific projects on public sector reform and I am satisfied with the pace of the reform agenda to date, including:

Finalisation on 30 May 2012 of the new legislative framework for the centralisation of driving license administration as set out in the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Road Worthiness) Act 2012;

Integration of Dublin Regional Tourism staff and functions into Fáilte Ireland implemented commenced in January 2012;

Transfer of responsibility for integrated rural transport to the National Transport Authority in April 2012;

Analysis of merger options and preparation of proposal on the mechanism to progress merger of the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency;

Initial analysis of options for rationalisation and reorganisation of a number of the NCSAs including examination of legal and HR issues and review of functions and business processes in each area concerned.