Written answers

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Public Sector Reform Implementation

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding public servants. [4797/13]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Public Service Reform Plan was published in November 2011 and sets out the basis for the comprehensive and strategic reform of the Irish Public Service. Significant progress has been made on its implementation to date across a range of areas such as shared services, public procurement, external service delivery and eGovernment. Details of the progress being made in line with the Reform Plan can be found in the Progress Report published last September, which is available on my Department’s website.

The Reform Plan is not just about securing the substantial savings we need to make in order to restore the public finances to a sustainable footing; it is also about maximising new and innovative service delivery channels; leading organising and working in new ways; and placing customer service at the heart of everything we do. If we do not radically reform the way the Public Service is managed and organised, it is the most vulnerable in our society who will suffer the most.

In order to support our determination to restore order to the public finances and to meet our fiscal targets, the Government have indicated that an additional saving of €1 billion in the pay and pensions bill will be necessary in the period to end 2015. Any measures aimed at achieving overall savings of €1 billion will involve reductions in payroll costs for serving staff as well as significant productivity and workforce reform measures to support the reform programme, in addition to those already achieved under the current Croke Park Agreement. The Government is committed to seeking agreement with staff representatives on the measures to be introduced to achieve the necessary savings in the Public Service pay and pensions bill. Intensive engagement, facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission, has now commenced between the parties to the discussions and will continue over the coming weeks.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.