Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 1 go 7, go huile, le chéile.

The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government, in fulfilling programme for Government objectives to help create a socially inclusive and fair society. Specifically, the division assists the work of the newly-established Cabinet committees, as follows. The Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services and the associated senior officials' group oversee programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, with a particular focus on equality and integration, and public service reform. The Cabinet committee on children and education and the associated senior officials' group oversee programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education, including further and higher education, with a specific focus on child poverty and well-being, and reducing local area disadvantage. The Cabinet committee on health and the associated senior officials' group oversee programme for Government commitments regarding health and health reform, including Sláintecare, reform of disability services and development of mental health services. This Cabinet committee will also maintain an overview of public health, including the impact of Covid-19 and the cross-Government response. The Cabinet committee on the humanitarian response to Ukraine and the associated senior officials' group oversee the whole-of-Government humanitarian response to assist people from Ukraine who have sought temporary protection in Ireland.

The division also assists the work of the Civil Service management board which oversees Civil Service renewal and other matters. It has departmental oversight of the National Economic and Social Council, NESC and the Dublin North East Inner City Initiative, including through assisting the work of the programme implementation board, programme office, and oversight group. It has responsibility for establishing the new child poverty unit. It leads on the oversight of A Policing Service for our Future. It assists public service reform through membership of the public service leadership board and public service management group. It provides me with briefing and speech material on social policy and public service reform issues. It also participates in relevant interdepartmental committees and other groups.

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