Action Plan of the Department of the Taoiseach (Including letter identifying Department's key areas of modernisation)
July 2003
Mr. Donal de Buitleir
Chairperson
Civil Service Performance Verification Group
Room 810
Lansdowne House
Lansdowne Road
Dublin 4
Dear Donal,
In accordance with the provisions set out in Sustaining Progress, I now enclose, for the consideration of the Group, the Action Plan for the Department of the Taoiseach for the period to June 2005. The Departments Partnership Committee has formally approved the enclosed Action Plan.
I am also attaching, as requested, an outline of key areas of modernisation where the Department intends to make progress, as well as a brief list of the areas where progress to date has been made in implementing the modernisation agenda.
Should you require further information in relation to any aspect of the attached documents, please let me know.
Yours sincerely,
_______________
Dermot McCarthy
Secretary General
Department of the Taoiseach
Key Areas of Modernisation
Key Area of Modernisation | Expected Improvements |
Customer Service Charter | The Department will pilot a Customer Service Charter in 2003. The Department will consult with its customers and setservice standards based on the outcome of these consultations. It is expected that the charter will lead to an improvement to the service the Department provides its customers. |
e-Cabinet project to be developed | The Department is developing an e-Cabinet project and it is expected that this project will go-live in September 2003. The project is the first fully integrated Cabinet model of its kind in the world and will bring substantial efficiency and other improvements to the Cabinet process. This project demonstrates the commitment of the Government to be at the forefront of the Information Society internationally. |
Integrated Human Resource Strategy and Staff Development Plan | The Strategy will provide the framework for new workplace initiatives and ensure that strategic human resource management practices support the Departments overall strategy. |
Management Information Framework (MIF) | The Department will continue to develop the MIF to produce accrual-based accounts, implement electronic payments and on-line expense processing and develop on-line travel booking system. These developments will improve efficiency and transparency and ultimately lead to improved customer service for both the internal and external customer service. |
Human Resource Management System (HRMS) | Implementation of the HRMS in the Personnel and Training Units was completed in April. This new system will improve the quality of service that both these areas can provide to their customers. The Department will continue to develop the HRMS to produce reports and interface with the other systems in use in the Personnel Unit. |
The following is a list of the areas where the Department has made progress to date in implementing the modernisation agenda:
Establishment of a dedicated Change Management Unit within the Department to progress the modernisation agenda
Establishment of a Regulatory Reform Unit
Change Management Working Group established as a sub-group of the Partnership Committee with special responsibility in respect ofthe implementation of the PMDS in the Department
Implementation of the Management Information Framework (MIF)
Communications/ConsultationNewsletter/Partnership/Survey/
Development of Performance Indicators to provide focus for Change Management Programme within the Department for the period between the Quality Assurance Group and the Performance Verification Group
Development of eLearning Guide to the Department, which was developed with CMF support, is now being considered centrally as a model for meeting wider Civil Service needs
A Learning Resource Centre has been developed in-house in which a range of learning materials such as CD-ROMs and videos are available to staff
Development of Gender Equality Policy and Implementation Plan
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