Public service must be kept public

STRONG language is being bandied about by the Government on the need for immediate change in the running of the public service.

We are also seeing increasing pressure on the provision of frontline services in education and social services.

All the while the IMF look on and the privatisation vultures hover. In order to protect public services, keep them in public hands and relieve the pressure on front line services, real reform is required in structures and work practices in the public services.

The old bureaucracies need to be swept aside and replaced with lean initiatives. New technologies need to be embraced, accountability through real metrics need to be introduced. This will ensure the services remain under our control and the mandate of social provision is maintained. Jobs will be lost but also created.

Both government, unions and public service management need to avoid getting stuck in belligerent positions and work together to provide a well-run public service that will remain in public hands and provides the required frontline services for vulnerable people.

Bickering on positions of self-interest will allow the agents of privatisation in through the back door and the opportunity will be lost.

Barry Walsh

Blackrock

Cork