Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together.

The first and pilot phase of the organisational review programme, ORP, involved the undertaking of comprehensive reviews of the capacities of three Departments, with particular reference to strategy, managing delivery and evaluation, and the production by them of follow-up action plans. The Departments reviewed were Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Transport.

The first phase was completed in November 2008 with the publication of a composite report which was lodged in the Oireachtas Library. The report includes the findings on each Department, the follow-up action plans prepared by them and a chapter on the challenges for the wider Civil Service arising from the research. The second phase of reviews under the organisational review programme is now nearing completion. This phase involves detailed examination of the capacities of four further Government organisations, the Department of Health and Children, the Central Statistics Office, the Property Registration Authority and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. The review of Revenue is almost finalised and the other three reviews have been completed.

The current position is that the management boards of the Department of Health and Children, the Central Statistics Office and the Property Registration Authority are working on follow-up action plans. I expect that these plans, along with that from Revenue, will be completed in around four to six weeks. A composite report, containing the findings on each organisation and their follow-up action plans, will be published shortly afterwards, following consideration by Government. Regarding the third and next phase of reviews, preparatory work is already under way. The capacities of another four Departments will be examined, namely, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Education and Science, Foreign Affairs and my own Department. I expect these reviews and the associated action plans to be completed by the end of the year.

Regarding the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, a review under the ORP has not yet been carried out. Regarding a review of the Department of Finance, a decision has yet to be made on the organisations to be included in the fourth phase of ORP reviews which are due to commence at the end of this year. Deputies can be assured that the ORP reviews constitute very thorough examinations of the capacities of Government Departments and offices. They involve considerable stakeholder engagement and, in that regard, I would like to record my appreciation to those members of Oireachtas committees who took the time to meet the ORP review teams and provide them with valuable input.

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