Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 14 September 2011, whether the input suggestion scheme by which civil servants were rewarded for bonuses as a result of proposing cost saving measures is still in operation; the savings made to date as a result of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25647/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Civil Service Staff Suggestion Scheme (INPUT) has not been operational on a centralised basis since 2003. Information on savings made in each Department was not collated centrally during the lifetime of the scheme.

Innovation and business process improvement is now an established discipline within Government Departments. The management of change is also a well established process within business units. In addition, there have been significant developments in the application of information technology to operational environments under the eGovernment initiative, including the move to online customer services. Other contributors to process improvement include the Quality Customer Service initiative and the Taoiseach's Public Service Excellence Awards. These initiatives ensure that continuous improvement in the effectiveness of operational activities is an integral part of the normal business planning process within Departments.