Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Finance the tangible results that have been delivered in his Department through the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement; the implementation plan in place in his Department to ensure reforms envisaged through this agreement are delivered on; if he is satisfied with the pace of reform in his Department and the agencies under his remit; the further reforms the taxpayer and Irish citizens may expect to witness in the running of his Department and its agencies through the public sector reform agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31578/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Integrated Progress Report on the Action Plan for my Department and its agencies under the Croke Park Agreement is available on www.finance.gov.ie. It outlines the summary of main progress achieved in the 12 month period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 among them being the appointment of a new Secretary General in March 2012. Following this appointment, the Department was restructured.

As set out 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.