Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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111. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that have been taken, on foot of the Guerin report, to change the governance and management of her Department; the concrete improvements that have been made to the performance of her Department since the Minister's statement on 13 May 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41142/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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On 13 May as part of my comprehensive response to the recommendations of the Guerin report I announced an independent review of the performance, management and administration of my Department. Three weeks later I announced the appointment of an Independent Review Group chaired by Mr. Kevin Toland, CEO of the Dublin Airport Authority.

The Independent Review Group reported on 11 July - a very rapid turn-around time for which I thank them.

The Review identified a number of core strengths in the Department which provide robust foundations and building blocks that will ensure a strong future. The willingness, flexibility and can-do attitude of many loyal staff was acknowledged, along with the significant depth of specialist knowledge and expertise. The Group, however, also found key issues and significant weaknesses that required addressing.

My Department immediately began work on a Programme for Change to implement the Group's recommendations. The objective of this Programme is to assist the Department to migrate to a new culture, leadership, management and operating model which delivers a high performing organisation and provides strategic oversight and added value to its agencies. Since that time the Department has engaged in a consultation with all of its key stakeholders, including staff and agencies.

Last week I hosted a roundtable consultation in Farmleigh with my Department's agencies to renew relationships with a view to improving the effectiveness of the sector as a whole.

The following developments are also relevant:

- There is considerable overlap between issues raised in the Civil Service Renewal Plan and the Toland Report.

- Consultations with stakeholders on a draft of the next Departmental Strategy Statement, which is linked directly to the recommendations in Toland, are currently taking place.

- My Department's Management Advisory Committee has reviewed and formalised its processes in line with the recommendations in Toland - arrangements under which the Committee meets the Minister of the day have also been reviewed and formalised.

- Work has commenced on a new HR Strategy and training plan for staff in the Department.

- My Department is collaborating with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on proposals to address IT related issues on a collaborative basis.

The kind of organisational change recommended by Toland requires time; this is recognised in the two year timeframe for its recommendations and I am satisfied with early progress that has been made.

In the meantime my Departments extensive programme of work continues. In that respect in the period since the Toland Report was published, a number of major initiatives have taken place. For example these include: the publication of the draft Police Authority Bill, which is the most profound reform measure for the Force since its foundation; a Chair Designate of the new Authority has been identified and announced; the Penal Policy Review Group has completed its work; the historic British Irish Visa Scheme has commenced; and the New Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and The Court of Appeal have been established.