Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way he and his Department are implementing the Civil Service renewal plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15213/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Civil Service Renewal Plan was published in October last year. There are 25 major actions in this three year Plan which is focused on building on the strengths of the Civil Service and ensuring that the capacity and capability is enhanced to meet future challenges and to deliver excellent service.

Since the publication of the Renewal Plan, the focus has been on ensuring that the six priority actions identified in the Plan for delivery in the first 200 days are achieved. Progress is being made on these priorities and notable milestones include

-The establishment of the Civil Service Management Board

-Government agreement on the terms of reference for the Accountability Board, and

-The nomination of a Civil Service Spokesperson.

In addition, work on a range of other actions has commenced such as a new model for Learning and Development, Corporate Governance, Open Policy Seminars and a number of related HR actions.

The Civil Service Management Board, comprised of all Secretaries General and Heads of Major Offices, is overseeing phased implementation of all the actions in the Civil Service Renewal Plan. Three sub-groups have been formed to progress the actions on Governance (chaired by the Secretary General to the Government); Systems (chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform); and People (chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform). Within this governance framework, Secretaries General across the Civil Service are taking responsibility for leading particular projects acting as Project Sponsors. 

A central Programme Management Office (PMO) in my Department is co-ordinating implementation of all of the actions in the Plan with support from the Department of the Taoiseach and a small number of staff on secondment from other Government Departments.

Engaging and communicating with staff is an important part of the implementation process and a major programme to engage with staff is underway including a series of implementation Townhall meetings around the country.

I am updating my Cabinet Colleagues on a regular basis and I amconfident that significant progress will be achieved as set out in the Plan.