Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which reform remains part of Government policy in the context of meeting specific annual targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10901/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that significant reforms in the Public Service have been brought about since the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A core goal of this Department is to continue to deliver reforms for Government through improved, cost-effective public services across a range of areas including governance, accountability, procurement, shared services, organisational redesign and property management.
The existing framework for public service reform and innovation, Our Public Service 2020 (OPS2020), builds on earlier reforms, whilst expanding their scope in order to accelerate the digital delivery of public services, deliver better outcomes for citizens, drive innovation and help to develop our people and organisations.
Notable examples of initiatives that have been delivered include:
- Digital : transforming and driving digital delivery of services, such as, for example; An Garda Síochána's Active Mobility Service; passport on-line; the Library Service’s My Open Library initiative; the Revenue Commissioners PAYE Modernisation programme
- Innovation: the Public Service Innovation Strategy, Making Innovation Real, was launched in November 2020 to enable our public services become more effective and efficient for the citizen; a Public Service Innovation Fund has been established to support innovation projects across the Public Service; the establishment of a central innovation support team; the creation of a Public Service-wide innovation network, and; the implementation of an annual Public Service-wide innovation week, amongst other initiatives
- Emerging Technology : driving the take-up of Robotic Process Automation through a dedicated procurement framework, facilitating swift and easy draw down of licences, supports and expertise to create efficiencies in back-office functions
- Strategic Human Resource Management: a significant review of strategic workforce planning was undertaken in selected public service organisations. A range of support materials to enable greater use of this strategic resource management tool have also been published
- Diversity and Inclusion: following a consultative process with Civil Society representing people covered by the nine grounds of equality legislation, a range of supports have been developed to promote greater diversity and inclusion in our Public Service
- Governance: creation of the Public Service Leadership Board (PSLB) - at Secretary General and equivalent level- supported by the Public Service Management Group (PSMG) to oversee the governance of reform efforts.
Innovations and reforms are also underway outside of the OPS2020 framework in organisations across the Civil and Public Service. For example, in this Department, a number of budgetary reforms have also been introduced in recent years including a renewed Public Spending Code and additional spending reviews.
As the Deputy will also be aware public service reform is also at the heart of the new public service pay agreement - Building Momentum 2021/2022. Under the new Agreement, the parties will be working over the coming weeks to agree action plans to give effect to the reform commitments in the Agreement.
Furthermore, my Department is currently in the process of preparing a successor framework to OPS2020. Similar work is also well-advanced in framing a further renewal plan for the Civil Service, in addition to an examination of the organisational structure and design of our Civil Service. These agendas will focus on large-scale ambitious transformation to support greater cost-effectiveness through enhanced digital service delivery, the development of our data infrastructure, and by building the workforce and workplace of the future arising from the transformative effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In terms of meeting annual targets, any forthcoming reform plan will seek to support priorities that have been articulated in the Programme for Government, in addition to other reform priorities that are identified across Government. Reform measures in Government’s current and previous reform programmes are programme managed to achieve the required outcomes, with progress tracked against identified indicators. . Copies of progress reports in relation to the existing reform programme are available at www.ops2020.gov.ie.
