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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

The overall responsibility for the public service modernisation, development and reform functions is vested in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. This has been the case since the transforming public services programme office was moved to that Department from the Department of the Taoiseach back in 2011.

Better Public Services, a new strategy for public service transformation to 2030, was launched by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in May 2023. The strategy provides a direction of reform for the public service, setting out the vision of: "Inclusive, high quality and integrated Public Service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland."

The Department of the Taoiseach is now involved in several important public service reforms. It provides the secretariat to the Civil Service management board, which provides collective leadership to the Civil Service renewal programme. The board is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and its membership consists of all five Secretaries General of Departments and heads of major offices.

The Department of the Taoiseach is also centrally involved in implementation of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which is the most substantive work of reform ever undertaken with respect to An Garda Síochána. The work is overseen by a dedicated programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach and has now entered the final consolidation phase, with many substantive reforms already attained.

The Department of the Taoiseach also has a role in respect of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. The Secretary General to the Government chairs the high-level steering board, the membership of which consists of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces as well as Secretaries General of relevant Departments. These activities reflect the importance the Government places on excellent public services and also the emphasis on ensuring they continue to reform and improve.

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