The Programme for Government envisages a renewed focus on a range of reform issues, including legislative change to facilitate more open, transparent and better government, an increased focus on eGovernment and shared services, giving citizens greater choice and input into service delivery, improving regulatory design and practice, and a more empowered, skilled and focused Public Service to deliver these changes.

On 17^th November, 2011, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D., announced a number of important initiates for the reform of the Public Service.  This included a Public Service Reform Plan and an accompanying Government Statement.  This marks the next phase in the Government’s reform programme and will set the basis for change across all sectors of the Public Service for the coming years.  A Statement setting out the progress made on the implementation of the Public Service Reform Plan was published on 6^th September, 2012.

The Public Service (CrokePark) Agreement will be a cornerstone of the reform agenda, and the full potential of the Agreement will be used to deliver the greater flexibility, redeployment and changed work practices required.  See implementationbody.gov.ie for more details on the Agreement.

For the background of Public Service Reform initiatives in Ireland, you can see “What have been the key elements of Public Service Reform in the Irish Public Service to date”.