Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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124. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the scope for reforms throughout the public and private sectors which may still have a role to play in economic performance in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3705/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Public Service Reform was a central element of the response to the challenges of recent years and remains an essential part of building for the future. Since the first Public Service Reform Plan was published in 2011, a comprehensive programme of reform has been implemented and this continues to be a key priority.  This is important as the performance of the Public Service has major implications for the management of the State's finances, and for economic development and employment creation.

We are now at the end of the final year of the implementation of the current three year Public Service Reform Plan 2014 2016.  The Reform Plan has enabled a transformation of how we do our work as public servants, putting citizens ever more to the centre of what we do both in terms of service delivery and transparency, openness and accountability. In addition, reform is continuing to deliver savings across a range of specific areas such as shared services, procurement reform and property management. The launch of the Public Service ICT Strategy in will permit the public service to use new digital methods to improve online delivery of services and reduce costs. These reform initiatives will ensure that the public service along with the private sector continues to each play their role in creating a positive climate for trade, investment and job creation.

A new phase of public service reform, to cover the period 2017-20, is currently being developed and last September I invited the members of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform to input to this process. This phase will consolidate the significant progress made since the first Public Service Reform Plan was launched in 2011. It will set out a series of actions to be delivered out to 2020 which will both build on the achievements of the last six years and respond to new challenges.

Overall, I believe that there has been significant progress on Public Service Reform to date.  We must build on this progress and maintain a focus on Public Service Reform over the coming years.  It is essential that targeted recruitment and investment in public services is done in tandem with further Public Service reform measures, not least as current and future demographic trends will continue to place demands on public service delivery.