Written answers

Thursday, 6 November 2014

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Civil Service Accountability

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the work completed to date in implementing the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance; if the consultation events held as part of this process will be maintained as a mechanism for public sector workers to provide feedback on the performance of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42020/14]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The report of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance was published on 11 June 2014.  In the context of the development of a Civil Service Renewal Plan, I and my Department considered it and its recommendations. 

On 30 October, the Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny, T.D., and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan.  This Plan sets out a vision and a three year action plan for the Civil Service, and represents a fundamentally new directon for the Civil Service.  It brings together the outcomes of two separate but related streams of work; the work of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance, and the work of the Civil Service Renewal Task Force. 

The underlying focus of the Independent Panel's report to strengthen public trust in the administrative system and to ensure faster and more responsive policy delivery across the Civil Service is now reflected in the Civil Service Renewal Plan.  Recommendations from the Independent Panel Report have been integrated into the Civil Service Renewal Plan.  These include the establishment of a Civil Service Accountability Board chaired by the Taoiseach and with external membership, introduction of a performance review process for Secretaries General, and publication of "who does what and to whom they are answerable" for senior managers.  In addition, the Renewal Plan includes the Independent Panel's recommendation in relation to organisational reviews, greater flexibility in decision making by Departments, establishment and governance of agencies, and an accountability code and training for special advisers.

The extensive engagement and consultation processes, that occurred as part of the work of the Civil Service Renewal Taskforce and Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance, received contributions in excess of 2,000 from staff and stakeholders.  As the implementation phase of the Civil Service Renewal Plan is now being rolled out, further engagement from staff and external stakeholders is being sought. Officials at my Department have already convened a "Townhall" event for Civil Service staff today, Thursday, 6 November, and it is intended that further such events will be held in 2015.  My Department has also invited written feedback on the Civil Service Renewal Plan from both staff and from external stakeholders, through our internal and external webpages.  In addition,  one of the agreed actions in the Renewal Plan is to introduce an annual standard Staff Engagement Survey to involve staff at all levels in ongoing organisational improvement.

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