Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

212. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the efficiencies being achieved in the Civil Service regarding the use of shared services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18125/15]

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

The National Shared Services Office within my Department is leading shared service strategy and implementation of Shared Services projects within the overall Reform and Renewal context.  It is responsible for the delivery of Civil Service Shared Service projects and the operation of Civil Service Shared Service Centres.

As part of its wider leadership role, the Office provides support to other Public Service sectors in progressing their Shared Service commitments but is not directly responsible for their implementation.  My colleagues, the Ministers for: Health; Education and Skills and; Environment, Community and Local Government will respond separately on the implementation of their individual sectoral Shared Services Plans.

My Department is advancing 3 key Shared Services projects across the Civil Service.  These are:

- PeoplePoint, the HR and Pensions Administration Shared Service;

PeoplePoint services approximately 26,000 employees across 25 Public Service Bodies.  This will rise to more than 31,000 employees across 39 Public Service Bodies, once all transitions have been completed.

- Payroll Shared Services; and

The Payroll Shared Services Centre (PSSC) services 31,000 payees across 33 Public Service Bodies.  This will rise to 120,000 across 53 Public Service Bodies, once all transitions have been completed.

- Financial Management Shared Services

Financial Management Shared Services is at an earlier project design stage. A procurement exercise is currently under way for a single financial management solution to deliver Financial Management Shared Services to 47 Public Service Bodies.  Once the business case is fully evaluated, I expect to seek the approval of Government in the autumn to progress to implementation.

Shared Services is not a short-term efficiency measure.  Both public and private sector best practice indicates that benefits are generally realised over three to five years.  Over the medium term, Shared Services delivers effective and efficient corporate services through the adoption of standardised processes for repeatable transactions, thereby reducing duplication of effort. It also plays a pivotal role as an enabler of broader Public Service Reform, freeing up Public Service staff to focus on core services.  In each case, the business case includes an estimation of the savings and other benefits, including staffing reductions associated with the project.

The qualitative benefits of PeoplePoint include:

- Standardised HR processes and procedures

- Elimination of duplicated effort

- Use of new and more innovative technologies

- Improved control and compliance

- Development of deep HR skills and expertise within the Shared Service Centre

- An enhanced Customer Service focus

The qualitative benefits of Payroll Shared Services include:

- Greater efficiency in payroll service delivery through standardising and optimising payroll transactional processes through self-service technologies

- Maintaining focus on ensuring consistent, high quality customer service

- Improved Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery planning and capability.