Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide any future reform objectives over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42617/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Since this Government took office, sustainable and far reaching Public Service Reform has been a key element of our strategy to meet the challenges that have faced the country in recent years. Public Service Reform will also continue to play a key role in our recovery.

As the Deputy will be aware, we published our first Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011. A Progress Report on the Reform Plan was published in September 2012 and a second Progress Report was published in January this year (available at www.reformplan.per.gov.ie). These reports set out the significant progress that has been made to date.

In January this year, I published the Government's second Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016. There are over 230 specific actions set out in the Reform Plan including greater use of shared services and innovative approaches to service delivery; increased use of technology and improved engagement with service users; more efficient and effective public procurement and property management; increased accountability and transparency in public decision making; enhanced leadership and performance management; and a continued focus on building the required capacity and capability to deliver reform and service improvements across the Public Service. The new Reform Plan is also available at www.reformplan.per.gov.ie.

Last week, the Taoiseach and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan.  This ambitious plan incorporates a vision and a three year action plan to renew the Civil Service.  It delivers on a key Programme for Government commitment and represents a fundamental new vision and direction for the Civil Service.  The Plan outlines the practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service, providing a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland.

Overall, I am satisfied that we have made very strong progress to date on the delivery of reform and that we have also set out a clear and ambitious reform agenda for the Civil and Public Service over the coming years.