The Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., is driving the implementation of this change programme as chair of the Cabinet Committee on Transforming Public Services. Speaking at the launch of this Programme, the Taoiseach stated that ‘I want a lean, motivated, high performing, responsive, and effective Public Service. I want to ensure that we use the enormous talent within the Public Service for the maximum benefit of citizens/taxpayers. I believe that this programme of change we are embarking on will achieve this.’
The ‘Transforming Public Services’ Programme is the term given to the Government Statement on Transforming Public Services, and the Report of the Task Force on the Public Service. The Task Force on the Public Service was appointed by the Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., in May 2008 to develop an action plan in response to the OECD’s Review of the Irish Public Service, which contained recommendations aimed at giving momentum to further transformation of the Public Service, a new direction and a new sense of urgency.
The Public Service must now change faster so that the Government can respond effectively to current and emerging challenges, in the economy and in society, and internationally. Speaking in Dáil Éireann, 8 April 2009, on the Supplementary Budget, the Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., stated that ‘Reform can accelerate in periods of crisis, when issues that could previously be ignored have to be faced. We are in such a time. We are not in a position to continue to pay for the Public Service to operate in an unchanged manner with an unchanged division of labour across an unchanged labour force'.
The TPS Programme is the most recent phase in the transformation and reform of our Public Service. It amounts to a radical overhaul of the Public Service, and placing the citizen/user of public services at the centre of its work.
The TPS Programme will mean the following for you:- a more integrated Public Service where all public servants will work together more effectively, irrespective of the part of the Public Service in which they work, their job title or geographical location.