The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 has recently been ratified by the ICTU Public Services Committee. The Agreement, also known as the Croke Park Agreement, provides a platform for a faster pace of Public Service transformation and will involve radical change in the way we do our business. Implementation of the Agreement will be covered regularly in OneGov in the coming months.
The coming weeks will see the presentation of the Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Awards and the next OneGov will be a special edition celebrating the considerable achievements from across the Public Service. Since 2004, when the Awards were first presented, the number of applications has increased considerably. More importantly, the quality of those submissions seem to get better and better. The Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the commitment and dedication of people working right across the Public Service. Those qualities will be essential supports to the Public Service and to the citizen in the months and years ahead.
Mr. Dara Calleary T.D., recently appointed Minister of State for Transforming Public Services, opens this edition (page 3) by setting the scene for the next phase of Public Service transformation. A related article on page 4 addresses the Croke Park Agreement.
The citizen-centred TPS programme places firm empahasis on excellent service and value for money. Two recent seminars addressed different aspects of this commitment (page 5): one encouraged the careful examination and redesign of business processes to ensure excellence in administration and service delivery; the other focused on the efficient and effective procurement of goods and services.
As ever, OneGov reports on the achievements and activities of colleagues across all sectors of the Public Service. In this edition, we cover news on work to make improvements in the Health Sector; a Justice Sector strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; a customer-friendly means for Local Authorities to collect charges for second residential properties; and developments in the Education Sector.
We also take a look at some of the joint initiatives with Departments and agencies in Northern Ireland.
As ever, there is an opportunity to win an iPod Touch or one of two iPod Nanos in our easy-peasy quiz – the answers to all of the questions are scattered throughout this newsletter. They are a great accessory for your holidays and time off!
As already mentioned, the next edition of OneGov will be devoted to celebrating the success of those twenty projects that have earned this year’s Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Awards. In the meantime, take care of yourselves.
Any comments? Email us at editor@taoiseach.gov.ie
