‘Driving through focussed Change in Reforming the Public Administration’ ICPS 7

th

Annual Public Sector Reform Symposium

Robert Watt, Secretary General Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Complex environment for change agenda

Backdrop to reform Fiscal and economic crisis Increased demands for public services Expenditure consolidation Rebuild public trust

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Strong platform for change further strengthened by: New government formed in March 2011 Commitments under the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Assistance Reduce headcount Maintain industrial peace

Public Service Reform Plan

Set of central and sectoral level reforms around the following since 2011….

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Shared services External services delivery (outsourcing of non core work) Procurement reform Property consolidation eGovernment / ICT / Cloud strategies Rationalisation of state agencies Expenditure reforms

New wave of reforms to be launched in January 2014 aimed at strengthening the focus on outcomes by driving efficiency, openness (including Government reform) and putting service users at the centre of public service planning and delivery Civil Service is uniquely placed to support and enable wider change given its central role – assisting the other sectors of the Public Service to achieve their objectives, progress reform and deliver Government priorities

Civil Service Renewal – a key strand of Reform Plan What it is

• A ‘Civil Service wide’ engagement initiative to work with those inside and outside the Civil Service to identify existing strengths to renew the vision and strategy for the future of the Civil Service – and to agree a set of practical actions that can start to make the vision a reality •

Led by

A Taskforce of senior managers from across the Civil Service • Jointly sponsored by the Secretaries General of the D/Taoiseach and the D/PER (myself), and supported by visible leadership from all Secretaries General • By focussing on the Civil Service sector in this way, it is hoped to set out a shared and cohesive reform plan for Government Departments and Offices • Strategic Oversight of Cabinet Committee on Public Service Reform

Civil Service Renewal Process

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A new way to develop a civil service reform agenda….

Working through an open, collaborative process - engaging staff at all levels and inviting external input and challenge at key stages Engagement approach (circa 1,000 staff so far) - workshops; regional town hall meetings; online channels; senior management sessions; focus groups; project teams under the leadership of Taskforce members; trade unions; political system; other external interests incl. academic and business interests Ideas scheme open to all Emerging ideas for Q1 2014 + around….

High performance culture Cross-departmental working Developing people Communicating the role of the CS Organisational performance Innovative capability Empowering staff Talent management