Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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24. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the efficiencies being achieved in the public sector regarding the use of shared services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33079/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Shared Services is a key element of the Public Service Reform Plan and a core priority for my Department. The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) within the Department is leading on shared service strategy and implementation within the overall Reform and Renewal context. It is responsible for delivering Shared Services projects in the Civil Service and for the operation of Civil Service Shared Service Centres. As part of its wider leadership role, the NSSO provides support to other Public Service sectors in progressing their Shared Service commitments but is not directly responsible for their implementation. 

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

PeoplePoint, the HR and Pensions Administration Shared Service Centre; PeoplePoint operates the Civil and Public Service HR and pensions administration service on behalf of 31 Public Service Bodies, serving approximately 26,500 employees currently. This will rise to more than 33,000 employees across 40 Public Service Bodies. Payroll Shared Service Centre The Payroll Shared Service Centre (PSSC) provides payroll and travel and subsistence services to 31,000 payees across 34 Public Service Bodies.  This will rise to 120,000 payees (including pension payees) across 53 Public Service Bodies.  Financial Management Shared Service ProjectThe Financial Management Shared Service Project is at an earlier stage.  A procurement exercise is nearing completion for a single solution to deliver Financial Management Shared Services to approximately 47 Public Service Bodies.  Once the business case is fully evaluated, I expect to seek the approval of Government to progress to implementation.  Shared Services improves management insights to support more informed decision making at PSBs and across Central Government through standardising data sets and common information requirements and sharing of cost effective standard technology solutions.

- Shared Services allows Public Service Bodies have the right balance of retained knowledge and more strategicexpertise to focus on the core business of their Department.

- Shared Services frees up resources to support core Government services and priorities for front-line services, and creates harmonisation opportunities increasing policy complianceacross Departments and drives processing excellence, efficiency and scalability.

- 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 following the transitioning of all customers into the new service.

- Over the medium term, Shared Services delivers effective and efficient corporate services through the adoption of standardised processes for repeatable transactions, thereby improving performance and reducing duplication of effort and avoidance of procuring expensive highly customised individual solutions in response to new and emerging requirements.

In September, I announced that the Government had approved the drafting of the National Shared Services Office Bill 2015 to establish the NSSO as a separate Civil Service Office, under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.