Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand the table will be circulated with the reply when we receive it by e-mail in the afternoon. Members on this side of the House have agreed with the principle and always known that there is a set-up cost. New offices and staff must be provided at new locations, while new software development systems must be put in place. Of course, it will take a few years and I am happy that the Minister has given some indication of the cost involved. My main concern is that he have a good handle on PeoplePoint and the shared services payroll. He said the financial management service was progressing separately. I am more concerned about other Departments mentioned where there is cross-departmental redeployment required to make the projects a success. This is a sticking point and the Minister proved it by saying other Ministers would answer separately. That confirms my worry - that each Department is operating in a silo - and I would prefer if the Minister answered for all Departments about shared services across the public service. It is something the Department could usefully do, rather than let each Department report separately.

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