Public service reform

Description:

Ireland should strive for a public sector that meets the needs of society and the economy in a cost-efficient way and is staffed by motivated, skilled people. The Public Service Reform (PSR) plan, published on 17 November 2011, outlines a strategy that promises high service levels while at the same time reducing costs. The challenge of how best to achieve public service efficiency has been a recurring issue over the last number of years.

Implication(s):

Ibec is engaging with the new Reform and Delivery Office within the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform on the implementation of the plan. The plan includes:

Implementation of a radical restructuring of how we do business by establishing shared services models for areas such HR, payroll and pensions;
Better use of technology to improve services for citizens;
Further reform of public procurement processes;
Property Asset Management;
Consideration of external service delivery models (in-sourcing, co-sourcing or outsourcing);
Public expenditure reform (cash flow accounting, publishing purchase orders above €20,000, new VFM evaluation techniques etc);
Cancellation of the decentralistation programme , leaving those already moved in situ; and
Reducing costs, addressing duplication and eliminating waste across the entire system.

It is set out five main areas:

Placing customer service at the core of everything we do;
Maximising new and innovative service delivery channels;
Radically reducing costs to drive better value for money;
Leading, organising and working in new ways;
A strong focus on implementation and delivery.

Current Position:

Our economic circumstances necessitates that all areas of public services be made more effective and efficient. However, achieving greater efficiencies while at the same time reducing costs, is a challenging task. Reform initiatives should result in the transformation of our public services, which clearly champion excellence in the services provided to business and the citizen. In essence, the PSR plan must result in cutting waste and duplication by sharing support services such as payroll and HR functions; combining purchasing power to deliver savings in procurement; using new and proven technologies; and opening up public services to greater competition to allow the best provider to do the job.

Download documents:

Public-Service-Reform-pdf.pdf - 383 Kbytes

Contact:

Aidan Sweeney
Phone: +353 1 605 1642
Email: firstname.lastname@ibec.ie

Last Updated: 08/21/2013