Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he expects reform to be a part of Government policy in the future, having particular regard to success in this area in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21590/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that under the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future, there is a commitment to continuing reform. The Programme outlines that reform to public services, among other areas, is an integral part of this government’s core missions. This is reflected in my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 which sets out driving reform and innovation across the Civil and Public Service as a strategic goal for my Department. One key factor of this expressed in the Strategy is the delivery of the next phases of Civil Service Renewal and Public Service Reform, including the continued implementation of the Public Service Innovation Strategy, digital government, procurement and people related reforms, with particular focus on shared and user-driven solutions and the workforce, workplace and organisation of the future.
To this end with a view to the future, officials are currently preparing the next phase of public service reform (to succeed Our Public Service 2020). This will incorporate priorities that were articulated in the recently published Public Service Innovation Strategy, Making Innovation Real. It will also align with ambitions set out in the programme of renewal for the Civil Service (Civil Service Renewal 2030) published in May last year and its recently published three year Action Plan (Civil Service Renewal 2024), as they relate to the wider Public Service. Additionally, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer under my Department published a new Public Service Digital Strategy, Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT Strategy for Ireland’s Public Service, which sets out an approach to deliver digital government for all, benefitting both society and the broader economy. It will also drive the wider GovTech priorities as well as bring significant public value benefits. These strategies set out the aims and priorities in these policy areas going forward and will aid the continuation of ongoing reform across the public service into the future.
