Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance if his recently announced intention to carry out a review of internal reorganisation, including the creation of an economics division to focus on economic planning and performance monitoring will entail the employment of new staff; if the intention is to fill these positions from outside of the civil service; if they will be subject to open competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24421/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The revised Statement of Strategy for the Department sets out its mission: "to manage Government Finances and play a central role in the achievement of the Government's economic and social goals having regard to the Programme for Government. In this way we will play a leadership role in the improvement of the standards of living of our citizens". This Department is redirecting our own primary focus more towards the identification and implementation of measures which will contribute to enhanced confidence, delivering sustainable growth in our economy and thereby repair the damage caused to the lives of citizens, the economy and the banking sector.

As also explained in the Statement of Strategy "As a result, during 2012 and 2013, we will actively engage in a threefold action plan.

·This will firstly involve training our existing teams so that they can develop greater technical, management and leadership skills necessary to the challenge. Using the performance management evaluation system, we will review our staff and identify any skills which need enhancing so as to use the training resources most effectively.

·We will challenge and acknowledge the efforts of our key performing staff by further developing their skills and add to the value they contribute to the Department.

·In parallel, we will be adding to our teams to supplement our skills base where gaps are identified. This will also be necessary for succession planning for the work of future generations of our department."

The addition of any new staff will occur through a combination of employment via open competition and the secondment of staff from other areas of the Civil/Public Service and private sector.