Croke Park Accord - Action plans encouraging

AT long last, it appears the Croke Park agreement may be about to bear fruit. Under the terms of the deal, aimed at bringing the Public Service into the 21st century, Government departments had to formulate action plans generating savings running to millions of euro.

Following a lengthy gestation period, a number of departments have finally published ‘action plans’ on their websites. That is to be welcomed.

Generally speaking, however, the plans are presented in such broad brush-strokes that people may find it difficult to measure their effectiveness. For instance, the redeployment of staff hinges on applicability and on the appropriateness of shared services. That could be taken as gobbledegook for doing nothing.

Proposals for change both in the civil service and commercial state bodies are encouraging but nothing less than tangible action, accountability, transparency and real value for money will satisfy a jaundiced public.