Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 307: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the proposals detailed in the action plan prepared by him relating to his Department under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement to bring about reform, efficiencies and financial savings in the justice and law reform area and the steps taken to date to agree implementation of what is proposed in the plan [39757/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 provides a sustainable framework to manage the provision and delivery of essential public services despite the reductions in public service numbers and in a period of unprecedented pressure on resources. Reflecting this, my Department's Action Plan is ambitious and contains measures, the implementation of which will bring about efficiencies over the period of the Agreement. These include

Redeployment of staff where appropriate with regular reviews in the light of available resources, resulting in a better match of resources to priorities.

Increased staff mobility and flexible opening times (where appropriate) to address unexpected demands, pressure points and changing priorities/requirements.

Development of governance arrangements across the Justice Sector leading to a more integrated Justice system and improved performance.

More effective use of IT/e-facilities leading to enhanced customer service and long term cost savings.

Business process improvement leading to administrative efficiencies.

Development of shared services approaches where possible.

Use of Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) to drive performance and to deal with instances of underperformance.

The Plan has been submitted to the Department of Finance which will incorporate it, along with those of the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Property Registration Authority, as appropriate, into the Civil Service Action Plan.

A meeting of a sub-committee of my Department's Departmental Council is scheduled to take place on 3 November 2010 to progress implementation of the Plan in consultation with the Unions.

An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prisons Service report directly to their respective Implementation Bodies on this matter.