Committee Reports::Report - Review of Department of the Public Service::29 May, 1985::Appendix


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Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1985 > Committee on Public Expenditure > Report - Review of Department of the Public Service

APPENDIX III

AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

AIMS

1.To ensure that the public service, in its widest connotation, is at all times the most effective and efficient of instruments for

•advising on the formulation and review of policies

•implementing existing policy (delivering services, operating programmes, exercising regulatory functions etc).

Note

The extent to which the Department is active in a particular branch of the public service, and its ability to achieve its aims and objectives, are constrained by the requirements of the particular function, its own statutory powers, provisions of the Civil Service Commissioners Act and other legislation, as well as many other factors.

OBJECTIVES:

1.To ensure that appropriate institutions and people are clearly charged with responsibility for discharging each of the functions and tasks of the public service.

Programmes

(a)Institutional development and change (Advising Government on proposals for the creation of new institutions and on development of functions of existing institutions, as required)

(b)Review of specific organisations (Initiating/participating major institutional reviews)

(c)Restructuring of Departments to achieve delegation of executive operations.

2.To ensure that systems and processes operate which enable all the functions of the public service to be most effectively and most efficiently discharged and, where appropriate, to provide some common services for departments and agencies.

Programmes

(a)Development of more accountable management

(b)Systems improvement in Departments

(c)A better service to the Public

(d)Computerisation

3.To ensure in a manner consistent with national employment and equality policies, that people with the requisite managerial, administrative and technical skills are available at all levels and to encourage a high standard of personal performance.

Programmes

(a)Recruitment

(b)Training

(c)Staff Development, education and welfare

(d)Promotions

(e)Top Appointments

(f)Incentives

(g)Cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sa Statseirbhis.

4.To ensure that, as far as organisation, personnel and remuneration aspects are concerned, the public service is managed in such a way as to

•be as cost-effective as possible

•conform with budgetary strategy

•be consistent with national employment policies

•conform with national incomes policies

•maintain uninterrupted services and lead to good employer/ employee relations

•make a favourable impact on the public.

Programmes

(a)Pay Policy

(b)Operation and review of Conciliation and Arbitration scheme

(c)Control of pay costs

(d)Control and deployment of staffing

(e)Conditions of service

(f)Superannuation.

5.To put before the Government a programme of measures to achieve certain of the objectives listed above, with proposals for any necessary legislation; and to arrange for research and development.

Programmes

(a)White Paper: A better Public Service

(b)Legislation deriving from (a)

(c)Research and development.

EXAMPLE: Elaboration of Programme (c) under objective 1

Programme:

Restructuring of Departments to achieve delegation of executive operations

Programme Objectives

To secure implementation of programme of separation of policy making functions from operational activity.

Sub-programme

Department of Labour

Sub-Programme Objectives:

•To set up the NMS as an Executive Office under the Manpower Division of the Department of Labour.

•To maximise the effectiveness of the bodies/agencies in the manpower area by clarifying their objectives, improving coordination and eliminating duplication.

Sub-Programme Targets in 1984

•To have the Report on the NMS accepted by the Minister for Labour by mid-March.

•To have the Director of the NMS appointed by end April.

•To secure implementation of the detailed recommendations for the NMS by end 1984. (Implementation of the recommendation on financial freedoms and accountability may have to await the enactment of legislation on the setting up of corporate bodies )

•To assist in the examination of AnCO at present being undertaken by D/Labour.

•To arrange for an early examination by DPS management services personnel of the Youth Section of the Department of Labour.

EXAMPLE: Elaboration of Programme (b) under Objective 2

Programme		Systems improvement in Departments.

Programme Objectives	•	To ensure a more cost-effective and efficient civil service by the provision of management services, operations research and other mathematically based techniques as demanded.

	•	To carry out staff surveys in Departments to ensure that Government objectives on the reduction of numbers in the civil service are achieved.

Sub Programme: Revenue Commissioners

Sub Programme Objective:

To carry out, in co-operation with the Revenue Commissioners, a complete examination of administration and procedures with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire tax collection process.

Sub Programme Targets for 1984

By March 1984	To complete review of administrative areas of Inland Revenue

March - May 1984	To review and report on operations and procedures in the Office of Collector General

May - October 1984	To review and report on Customs and Excise administration and operations

November - December	Prepare general commentary on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

EXAMPLE: Elaboration of Programme (e) under Objective 3

Programme	Top Appointments System

Programme Objectives	•To recommend the appointment to posts at
	Assistant Secretary level and upwards of the most suitable people irrespective of the departments or classes in which they work

	•To ensure greater mobility at the top of departments.

Programme Targets in 1984	•To have an information base established by end February

	•To monitor the operation of the scheme and propose any necessary improvements

	•To review arrangements for appointments at the highest level.

EXAMPLE Elaborations of Programme (d) under Objective 4

Programme	Control and deployment of staffing

Programme Objectives	•To develop proposals, for consideration in Government, on the level of public service employment to be aimed at, in the context of current budgetary and employment policies

	•To advise Government on the annual Estimates provision for staffing in Government Departments in the input of the overall policy

	•To examine and decide on proposals which have staffing implications for Departments
	•To monitor the implementation of policies on staffing in the civil service and to monitor staffing expenditure against budget on a monthly basis.

Programme Targets for 1984	•All Departments to have fully applied the embargo and to have kept within approved pay allocations.

	•Proposals to Government on policy for the 1985 Estimates and levels of public service employment to be prepared by end June.

	•Examination of 1985 pay Estimates and forecast Estimates to 1988 to be completed by end August.

EXAMPLE: Elaboration of Programme (a) under Objective 5

Programme	White Paper: A Better Public Service
Programme Objectives	•To present to Government for approval a coherent programme of measures for the development of the public service
	•To arrange for the publication as a White Paper of the Government’s plans for the development of the public service.
Programme Targets	•To receive submissions for inclusion in the White Paper by 24 February
	•To submit proposals to Government by end April
	•To have White Paper published as soon as possible after approval by Government.