James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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122. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will detail whether any surveys have been carried out to estimate the amount of time taken up with administrative tasks where such time could be used more efficiently; if so, in which areas of the Department has this examination been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18483/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to delivering in an effective and efficient manner for the State and its citizens. No surveys have been carried out in relation to the time required by administrative tasks, but as part of minimising such tasks, my Department avails of transactional HR and payroll services provided by the National Shared Services Office. In addition, each Branch is required to have a job specification for the roles in the area to assist in the effective discharge of the duties of each post.

A review of the Department of Defence under the Organisational Capability Review (OCR) Programme, managed by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, was conducted in 2021. A range of staff and external stakeholder engagements took place between May and November 2021, including workshops and interviews. The Report was published in April 2022 and contained 55 recommendations. A high level implementation plan was published in July 2022. A detailed action plan was also developed internally to further facilitate implementation of the recommendations. This involved changes in the Department's structures as well as changes in engagement across the organisation. Among the key elements was the creation of a corporate spine within the Department to draw together all corporate supports under one division to provide those supports more effectively and efficiently across the organisation.

The Department also uses programme and project management to deliver on significant projects arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces to organise, drive, and report on progress. Details of these reports, the Strategic Framework, and the Detailed Implementation Plan, are available on my Department's website: www.defence.ie.