ESRI to publish reports on public services

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) will today publish a series of papers on the state of Ireland's public services.

The reports will recommend a revamps second-level education and the shelving of plans for pay-for-performance scheme in the health system.

The ESRI claims that the papers show the public sector can be improved, in spite of Budget cuts.

According to the research, Irish people rate their public services poorly, with the health service given one of the lowest ratings in Western Europe.

The ESRI has dismissed plans to introduce a pay-for-performance scheme in the health service, claiming that there is no evidence internationally to suggest it would improve quality or efficiency.

The organisation also said that a more student-centred approach should be taken in Irish second-level schools, and also recommends a move away from streaming.

Government policymakers will be responding to the findings of the three papers at the conference in Dublin this morning.