Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 79: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if she will be submitting proposals in relation to Public Service transformation in respect of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13948/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I fully support the Government's commitment to achieving its vision and strategy in relation to the transformation of public services and I welcome the assignment of special responsibility in this regard to Minister of State Calleary. I can assure the Deputy that I and my Departmental officials will continue to engage actively to transform and modernise the public service.

While many of the initiatives being progressed are of a cross-Departmental nature, I will be examining, with my officials, including in the context of the preparation of the new Statement of Strategy which I am required to have produced within 6 months of my appointment as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, the scope for my Department to further enhance such initiatives, as appropriate, in order to achieve greater flexibility and improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.

I am happy to say that the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was one of the first Departments to outsource its financial function, including payroll, to the Financial Shared Services Division of the Department of Justice and Law reform which is based in Killarney.