Transforming Public Services - Report of the Task Force on the Public Service

This report recommends a range of initiatives which the Task Force believes should commence immediately, and be implemented over the next three years. We recommend that they be implemented as an integrated package as they aredesigned to be mutually reinforcing. The actions are focused on:

• Achieving improved performance by organisations and individuals;
• Creating flexibility in deployment of people, assets and other resources;
• Identifying the precise transformation agenda in each sector and engaging and mobilising the necessary actors; and
• Achieving greater efficiency, effectiveness and economy.

They are also designed to build capacity for ongoing transformation, through a focus on:

• Promoting a shared identity, ethos and vision by focusing on the joint achievement of societal goals;
• Developing leaders at every level of organisations;
• Empowering employees through mobility, shared performance data and training;
• Developing performance metrics which are meaningful to the citizen;
• Increasing organisational and individual accountability for achieving performance targets;
• Promoting longer term planning;
• Innovation, shared governance, networks and collaborative working; and
• Sharing infrastructure and new technologies.

The Task Force was set up with the specific remit of developing a plan to respond to the findings and recommendations contained in the OECD's Report on the Irish Public Service, published in April 2008. We endorse the core message of the OECD's evaluation, namely, that by working in new ways, the Irish Public Service has the potential to deliver significantly improved services and outcomes. We believe this to be the case notwithstanding the quality outcomes and improved internal management processes recorded by the OECD in many areas of the Public Service. The public expects improved and expanded services while the current budgetary situation severely constrains the resources available to maintain and enhance such services. Better services for the citizen now more than ever require prioritisation, efficiency and effectiveness measures, the use of new technology and an effective mobilisation and application of resources across a more integrated public service.