Think-tank to develop plan for public services

A new think-tank has been established to develop an action plan to overhaul the public services.

A recent OECD report criticised the huge growth in the number of state agencies in the country.

The report, which was published in April, recommended that there should be greater staff mobility between the Civil Service, State agencies and local authorities.

The new taskforce, announced by Taoiseach Brian Cowen in the Dáil will be made up of successful businesspeople as well as senior Government officials.

It will be chaired by the Government’s secretary general, Dermot McCarthy and is expected to report back to the Taoiseach before the end of the summer.

Members of the taskforce include Glanbia managing director John Moloney and secretary general of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Geraldine Tallon.

Mr Cowen told the Dáil: “The public sector needs continuously to review its systems, processes and procedures, to ensure that it is responsive, efficient and that it provides high quality, value for money services.

“In other words, citizens need to be sure that the public service will deliver the services it expects, when needed, where needed, as needed.”

He added that he wanted to create a renewed and flexible public service which can continue to command the respect and confidence of taxpayers.