Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Annual Report 2019

Contents

Executive Summary i

1 Managing Public Expenditure Better 6

1.1. Managing the Estimates Process 6

1.2. Management of Voted Expenditure 7

1.3. Capital Expenditure Management 8

1.4. Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service 9

1.5. Government Accounting 9

2 Brexit and International Cooperation 11

2.1. Brexit 11

2.2. EU Matters 11

2.3. North South Cooperation 11

2.4. EU Structural Funds Programmes 11

2.5. European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Policy 12

3 Public Service Pay, Pensions and Industrial Relations 14

3.1. Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 14

3.2. Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) 14

3.3. Industrial Relations 15

3.4. Single Public Service Pension Scheme 15

3.5. Other Pay and Pensions matters 16

4 Civil Service Renewal 17

4.1. Civil Service Renewal Plan 17

4.2. People Strategy for the Civil Service 2017-2020 19

4.3. Public Service Sick Leave 22

5 Public Service Reform 23

5.1. Our Public Service 2020 23

5.2. Openness, Transparency and Accountability 25

5.3. Legislative and Public Governance Measures 26

6 Digital Government 28

6.1. Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) 28

6.2. Public Service ICT Strategy Key Achievements 2019 28

6.2.1. Build to Share 29

6.2.2. Digital First 30

6.2.3. Data as an Enabler 30

6.2.4. Improve Governance 30

6.2.5. Increased Capability 30

6.3. eGovernment Strategy 2017-2020 31

6.4. Public Service Data Strategy 2019-2023 31

6.5. Engaging at EU and International Level 32

6.6. GovTech 32

7 Public Procurement 33

7.1. Public Procurement Reform 33

7.2. Strategic Public Procurement 33

7.3. Public Service Procurement Frameworks 34

7.4. Construction Procurement 34

7.5. Engagement with Stakeholders 35

7.6. Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis Report 36

7.7. Increased use of Digital Technology 36

7.8. Supporting OGP Staff 37

8 Supporting Our Staff to Achieve Their Mission 38

8.1. People@PER Strategy 38

8.2. HR Business Partnering 38

8.3. HR Operations 39

8.4. Organisational Development 39

8.5. Corporate Management 39

8.6. Internal and EU Audit 40

8.7. Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) 41

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Executive Summary

About this Annual Report The Mission of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is to serve the public interest by supporting the delivery of well-managed, well-targeted and sustainable public spending through modernised, effective and accountable public services. In support of this mission, the Department pursues two strategic goals:

To manage public expenditure at sustainable levels in a planned, rational and balanced manner in support of Ireland’s economic development and social progress; and

To have public management and governance structures that are effective and responsive to the citizen, transparent and accountable, and which thereby improve the effectiveness of public expenditure.

Throughout 2019, the staff of the Department worked collaboratively on a whole range of policies, projects and initiatives to deliver on these goals. Due to the Covid-19 public health emergency, the strategic context for the Department’s work changed enormously between the end of 2019 and the publication of this Annual Report in mid-2020. This has led to major changes in the Department’s work and the landscape for managing public expenditure and leading Public Service Reform is now very different. However, it is still important to look back on 2019 to capture the key developments and achievements in this regard during that period and this is the focus of this Annual Report. Managing Public Expenditure In 2019, Ireland continued to operate under the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact. In June, along with the Department of Finance, the Department hosted the fifth annual National Economic Dialogue, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to come together to exchange views, in advance of the Budget, on the social and economic priorities facing the Government in the context of macro-economic and fiscal parameters. In the same month, the Summer Economic Statement was published, also in conjunction with the Department of Finance. The following month saw the publication of the Mid-Year Expenditure Report. These reports provide a starting point for budget deliberations by the Oireachtas and set out baseline expenditure ceilings over the medium term. The Department continued its Spending Review process which covers the totality of Government spending over a three year period to 2019. Approximately 81 papers have been published to date, which have contributed to a robust evidence base to inform policy making in the short and medium term. A new three-year round of Spending Reviews will commence in 2020, continuing the process of subjecting programmes to critical assessment on a rolling basis, placing evidence at the heart of policy making and informing the Estimates discussions with Departments. The Department published the Expenditure Report 2020 on Budget Day (8 October). The Department oversaw gross current expenditure by Departments of just over €60 billion in 2019, representing a year-on-year increase of almost €3 billion or 5.2% over the 2018 outturn, reflecting the Government’s commitment to the provision of efficient and effective public services. The Department broadly managed Voted expenditure in line with the amount set out in the Expenditure Report 2019, as well as progressing the Performance Budgeting and Equality Budgeting initiatives.

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The Department oversaw gross capital expenditure by Departments of €7.2 billion in 2019, representing a year-on-year increase in capital investment of €1.2 billion, or 20%, over the 2018 outturn of €6.0 billion, reflecting the Government’s commitment to increase capital expenditure in line with the National Development Plan. Project Ireland 2040 - A number of key outputs supported the implementation of PI2040 in 2019, including publication of Build 2019 – Construction Sector Performance and Prospects, Prospects - Ireland’s Pipeline of Major Infrastructure Projects, the first Annual Report setting out progress to date in delivery, an updated Public Spending Code to strengthen the guidance for public investment, and the Myprojectireland mapping tool, alongside an updated and expanded Investment Tracker. Brexit and International Co-operation The Department continued to prepare for Brexit in all scenarios and to address the issues that have arisen for the range of policy areas for which it is responsible, as well as the impact of Brexit on the wider economy. In addition, it focussed on broader developments at an EU level and also internationally, in preparation for forthcoming discussions on the future of Europe. Brexit and EU developments will continue to be a key priority for the Department. Cohesion Policy and Structural Funds The Department continued to oversee the management of the 2014-2020 EU Structural Funds Programmes (ERDF receipts in aggregate to date is €157.5 million). Negotiations at Working Party and Ministerial level for the 2021-2027 programming period have been ongoing since the European Commission published its post 2020 Cohesion Policy legislative proposals in May 2018. In the period since, the Council’s position on the overall package has been agreed and negotiations are progressing with the European Parliament with a view to having these completed in advance of the start of the next programming period. The Department commenced formal engagement in relation to the development of the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreement and the ERDF Operational Programmes during 2019. The Department also commenced planning for the new North South PEACE PLUS programme which will succeed the current cross border PEACE and INTERREG programmes for the 2021-2027 period. Public Service Pay, Pensions and Industrial Relations, The Department had a key role in managing a number of significant industrial relations challenges in the Public Service over 2019, while ensuring that the public service pay and pensions bill continued to be managed in a sustainable way within the framework of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. The Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) published its third report in May 2019, which related to recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. The Commission’s fourth and final report was published in October 2019. It dealt with specialist grades in the public service, senior posts and certain public service health professionals. The Department continued its focused efforts to address implementation by relevant authorities of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme and to develop a long-term administrative solution. Civil Service Renewal The Department continued to co-ordinate the implementation of the Civil Service Renewal Programme, which is overseen by the Civil Service Management Board. Details of the

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progress made in delivering renewal projects which the Department has direct responsibility for are set out in the main body of this Report. The fourth progress report on the Civil Service Renewal Plan was published in May 2019 setting out the high level progress achieved in all of the actions in the plan since implementation began. Civil Service People Strategy In line with the Civil Service Renewal Plan, the Department, in collaboration with the wider Civil Service HR Community, continued to implement the People Strategy for the Civil Service 2017-2020 over the course of 2019. The Strategy seeks to support the delivery of a more effective and quality public services to the State and its citizens by positioning HR as a strategic driver to enable the delivery of three priorities: Be an Employer of Choice; Build the Workforce of the Future; and Build, Support and Value Managers as People Developers.

Public Service Reform Our Public Service 2020, which is operational since 2018, focuses on supporting sustainable, continuous progress to build a stronger Public Service and to deliver better quality services

and outcomes for the public. It advocates innovation, and working better across the whole of Government, with a strong emphasis on measuring the outcomes of reform. During the year, the Department continued to guide the OPS 2020 process, as well as monitoring the implementation of actions and identifying appropriate indicators to measure successful implementation. It also continued its programme of reforms aimed at delivering open, accountable and ethical government: The Data Sharing and Governance Act was signed into law in March 2019 and the second statutory review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 was completed in December 2019 and published in early 2020. Implementation of the Open Data initiative continued, as well as the ongoing provision of support and advice in relation to the implementation of the Freedom of Information legislation to citizens as well as up to 600 public service bodies. Engagement was undertaken on the process for creating and implementing a follow up to the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018 Digital Government The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), working with Government Departments and agencies across the Public Service, continued to drive the digital transformation agenda across the Civil and Public Service. OGCIO also continued to engage with the EU and OECD on a range of initiatives. Achievements in 2019 included: progressing the 18-Step Action Plan to implement the Public Service ICT Strategy and in particular the expansion of the Build to Share (BTS) suite of services, including on-boarding new organisations to the Managed Desktop service and continuing the roll-out and development of the Applications suite and of Government Networks services nationwide; progressing the gov.ie portal, into which all Government Department websites are being migrated, and the private Government Cloud solution; and advancing the Public Service Data Centre. The OGCIO also took forward the implementation of the eGovernment Strategy 2017-2020 and the Public Service Data Strategy 2019-2023 and supported the Oireachtas in its consideration and passing of the Data Sharing and Governance Act. It advanced the ICT HR Professionalisation Strategy, in particular undertaking the pilot Apprentice ICT Specialist programme; worked to increase the uptake of MyGovID by government agencies; and worked with the Digital Marketing Masters programme in Trinity College Dublin to assess customer experience of digital government services. It had ongoing engagement with

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multilateral institutions, including the OECD and EU on the Single Digital Gateway Regulation and participated at policy and technical groups for eIDAS and the European Blockchain Partnership. Public Procurement The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) leads the implementation of the Public Procurement Reform Programme, bringing increased levels of collaboration and consistency to public service procurement. In 2019, OGP Sourcing teams completed 1,004 competitions with a total estimated spend of €4,516 million (including an arrangement for electricity with an estimated spend of €3 billion over the life of the framework). It established a total of 23 additional framework agreements, 17 discrete contracts and more than 964 competitions from framework agreements to assist public sector bodies in securing goods and services. OGP now has in excess of 120 active framework agreements. OGP arrangements provide critical support in the delivery of services to the citizen and new contracts this year include ambulances, electricity for street lighting and a national framework for asbestos surveying that will be accessed by the HSE, OPW and local authorities. The OGP commenced consultations on the merits of establishing a procurement ombudsman and on the implementation and refinement of the reform programme. It published updated guidance and information notes to facilitate the professionalisation of public procurement. A review of the policies and practices for the procurement of public works projects was launched in March and a Position Paper on Consultancy Engagement was published in May as part of the development of the next generation of the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). The Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC) met 8 times in 2019. In 2019, the OGP won a Facilities Management Award for its work with An Garda Síochána. The OGP was also shortlisted for the CIPD Ireland HR Awards for best employee engagement initiative and for best HR team, to be awarded in 2020. Supporting our Staff to Achieve Their Mission The Department’s HR Strategy Unit continued to roll-out and deliver the Department’s People@PER Strategy, as well as providing a wide range of HR services to the Department’s staff. It managed a substantial level of staff turnover and continued to provide a wide range of training and development opportunities to staff. Throughout 2019, the Corporate Office provided corporate support to the Secretary General and the Department more generally, and coordinated the development of Department’s Business Plan for 2019 and 2020 and the Annual Report 2018 as well as the Department’s approach to governance, knowledge management, risk management and compliance. It supported the Governance Committee and the Management Board in their ongoing work to monitor and enhance best practice governance procedures in the Department. The Finance Unit continued to enhance financial management in the Department. The Internal and EU Audit Unit provided an internal audit service to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance and to implement its Internal Audit Strategic Plan 2016-19. The Minister’s Office provided executive support to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. The Press Office continued to represent the vision, mission

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statement, values and work of the Minister in order to communicate in a strategic and effective manner with relevant stakeholders. The Secretary General’s Office played a key role in terms of providing support to the Secretary General in the context of his responsibilities under the Public Service Management Act, 1997. Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) The CMO delivered an efficient and cost effective occupational health service, as well as policy advice on occupational health matters in respect of a Civil and Public Service workforce of approximately 42,000 during 2019. New areas of work included audiogram hearing and silica dust exposure checks for OPW industrial workers and immunisations for immigration officers. The CMO was awarded Safe, Effective, Quality Occupational Health Service (SEQOHS) accreditation in June 2019, which ensures it is a modern and efficient service which operates in line with best international occupational health practice.

1 Managing Public Expenditure Better

1.1. Managing the Estimates Process

In October, the Department published Expenditure Report 2020. This set out the detailed budget measures for 2020, along with medium-term Ministerial expenditure ceilings out to 2022. This was followed in December by the publication of the 2020 Revised Estimates Volume (REV), which sets out detailed expenditure allocations for 2020 at a programme level. This includes performance information for each Vote, setting out the key services and activities funded by public resources and high level measures of the context and impact indicators related to these services and activities. The 2020 REV also includes performance information related to the Equality Budgeting Initiative and details on climate related expenditure across Government Departments. The following key initiatives were progressed:

Budgetary Reform: In June, the Department, along with the Department of Finance, jointly published the Summer Economic Statement 2019. This set out the broad parameters for macroeconomic and fiscal growth and constraints over the medium term and facilitated discussion about fiscal options and priorities in advance of the October Budget and Estimates. In the same month, the Department, in collaboration with the Department of Finance, hosted the National Economic Dialogue in Dublin Castle. Now in its fifth year, this event allows for a diverse array of stakeholders to come together for an open and inclusive exchange on the social and economic priorities facing the Government, in the context of macro-economic and fiscal parameters. The theme of the event for 2019 was ‘Building on Progress at a Time of Change’. Discussions covered topics such as sustainable economic growth, future jobs, housing supply and climate action. The papers produced by the Department to guide these sessions are on the Budget website.

As part of the whole-of-year budgetary process, the 2019 Mid-Year Expenditure Report (MYER) was published in July. This set out the opening position and high-level parameters for the forthcoming Budget and details estimated gross voted expenditure amounts on an aggregate and Ministerial basis over a three year period. This year the MYER set out two possible expenditure strategies, one based on a no-deal Brexit scenario and one based on an orderly Brexit.

In 2017, the Department initiated the first in a series of rolling, selective Spending Reviews, which cover the totality of Government spending over a three year period to 2019. Approximately 81 papers have been published to date. A new three-year round of Spending Reviews will commence in 2020, continuing the process of subjecting expenditure programmes to critical assessment on a rolling basis, placing evidence at the heart of policy making and informing the Estimates discussions with Departments.

Work to further embed the Performance Budgeting Initiative in resource allocation and decision making continued in 2019. In that context, the third Public Service Performance Report was published in May. This report aims to enhance the focus on performance and delivery by providing timely and relevant quantitative performance indicators in a dedicated, focused document. In advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) in December, a review of performance indicators was conducted with all Government Departments. The Public Service Performance Report also reported on progress on the pilot programme of Equality Budgeting, which was expanded in 2019.

Fourteen high-level goals were articulated for Phase 2, resulting in active engagement from nine Government Departments. The Department’s work in this area reflects the Public Service Duty requirement set out in section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.

The Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform engaged the OECD to conduct a Scan of Equality Budgeting in Ireland. Published on budget day, the report outlined key recommendations to advance Equality Budgeting policy. Implementation of these recommendations commenced in late 2019. The work on Equality Budgeting is also supported by regular meetings of the Equality Budgeting Expert Advisory Group.

1.2. Management of Voted Expenditure

Each year, the Dáil authorises funding for the services and activities of the Government in blocks of expenditure known as Votes. A Vote is a specific area of government expenditure, which is the responsibility of a single Government Department or Office. The Department monitors and manage expenditure by individual Votes, as well as analysing and managing public expenditure on an aggregate level. Throughout 2019, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform monitored expenditure by Departments against monthly expenditure profiles published at the beginning of the year. These expenditure figures are published on a monthly basis in the Fiscal Monitor, which also contains key revenue figures published by the Department of Finance. Overall, the Department oversaw gross current expenditure by Departments of just over €60 billion in 2019, representing a year-on-year increase of almost €3 billion or 5.2% over the 2018 outturn. The Department also: examined and evaluated proposals from Departments and Agencies on a value for money and resource prioritisation basis; advised on whether or not the proposals should be sanctioned; and reviewed and advised on the policy and performance of State bodies. Twenty five of the 42 Votes managed expenditure within the original voted allocations for 2019, with the remaining 17 requiring Supplementary Estimates in December. Of these, 4 were technical Supplementary Estimates. Among other things, the substantive Supplementary Estimates in 2019 provided additional expenditure for the provision of a 100% Christmas Bonus for weekly Social Welfare recipients and the Health Service and Asylum Seekers Accommodation. Savings across other Departments brought overall expenditure for the year broadly in line with the amount set out in the Expenditure Report 2020. Due to the nature of its role, the Department also engages extensively with other Departments and public bodies in respect of a broad range of sectoral policies across the whole-of-Government.

1.3. Capital Expenditure Management

The Department oversaw gross capital expenditure by Departments of €7.2 billion in 2019, representing a year-on-year increase in capital investment of €1.2 billion, or 20%, over the 2018 Appropriation Account outturn of €6.0 billion, reflecting the Government’s commitment to increase capital expenditure in line with the National Development Plan. Project Ireland 2040 - the National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Planning Framework - launched by the Government in 2018, seeks to reform how public investment is planned and delivered to achieve long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability. It includes investment of €116 billion over ten years through the Exchequer and Semi-State companies. Project Ireland 2040 is already delivering better transport links, facilitating better health and environmental outcomes and stimulating greater housing output. The implementation of the NDP takes into account the recommendations from the 2017 IMF Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA) which found that, overall, Ireland manages its public infrastructure relatively well and highlighted strengths and weaknesses in Ireland’s investment management system for consideration. The following outputs continued to support the implementation of PI2040 in 2019:

Publication of Build 2019 – Construction Sector Performance and Prospects.

Publication of Prospects - Ireland’s Pipeline of Major Infrastructure Projects detailing high level information on 50 of the largest projects included in Project Ireland 2040.

Publication of the first Annual Report setting out progress to date in delivery as well as policy developments across the system.

Publication of eight Regional Reports detailing investment delivery and plans under Project Ireland 2040.

Publication of an updated Public Spending Code following an extensive consultation process to strengthen the existing guidance for public investment to better reflect the realities of project delivery with a particular focus on financial appraisal, cost estimation and risk management.

Publication of the Myprojectireland mapping tool, alongside an updated and expanded Investment Tracker.

Representation of Project Ireland 2040 at the National Ploughing Championships. As outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP), Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) will continue to feature as a procurement option available to Government for appropriately structured projects that demonstrate value for money over a traditional procurement option and which meet the robust and rigorous tests for project appraisal that apply to all public investment projects under the Public Spending Code. Rather than pursuing a specific programme of PPP projects, decisions on pursuing further projects by PPP are taken on a case by case basis, based on the merits of using PPP in the case of each individual project as compared with the alternative traditional procurement option.

1.4. Irish Government Economic and Evaluation

Service

The Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) is an integrated cross-Government service that aims to support better policy formulation and implementation in the Civil Service through the use of data and policy analysis. IGEES staff operate within each Department, supplementing the expertise of those working on policy analysis and formulation. IGEES continued to grow in 2019 to approximately 200 economists/policy analysts across the Civil Service. In 2019, the Department continued to support IGEES to build capacity in evidence-informed policy making in the Civil Service. This involved central specialist recruitment - 31 IGEES Graduate Policy Analysts (Administrative Officer level) and 12 Economist/Policy Analysts (Assistant Principal Officer level) were recruited in 2019 - structured mobility, summer student internships, targeted learning and development opportunities, and organisation of conferences and other events as platforms for discussion of analysis and its relevance for policy. 2019 also saw the expansion of the IGEES learning and development suite. This included training in Cost Benefit Analysis, Multi-Criteria Analysis, Regulatory Impact Assessment, and courses in statistical computer programmes (R and Stata). IGEES members also facilitated a

module of the Civil Service Graduate Programme: outlining evidence-informed policy making tools to newly recruited AOs and Third Secretaries from across the Civil Service; training on Business Cases at both introductory and intermediate levels; and providing a bespoke induction programme for newly recruited IGEES AOs. Over 50 papers were produced by IGEES staff across Departments in 2019, covering a variety of topics including health, social protection, education, climate change, tax policy, and capital expenditure, all of which are available on the IGEES website. A number of these were published as part of the 2019 Spending Review and Budget 2020. To support policy debate and evidence-informed policy making, in 2019 IGEES organised two conferences (the IGEES Spending Review Conference and the IGEES Annual Conference) and hosted a number of seminars. In addition, IGEES staff from across the network engaged in a variety of external conferences, including the Dublin Economic Workshop and the NERI Labour Market Conference. 2019 also saw the continuation of the IGEES Research Fund, established to support analytical work on cross-departmental policy issues. The 2019 fund was allocated to support two new collaborative projects involving the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI). The IGEES Medium Term Strategy for 2020-22 was developed throughout the second half of 2019, informed by an OECD review of the service and an extensive stakeholder consultation. This was launched in early 2020.

1.5. Government Accounting

The role of the Government Accounting Unit (GAU) of the Department is to develop government accounting policies, principles and procedures to promote and strengthen good financial management and accountability across Government Departments and Offices.

In 2019, GAU progressed the examination of a transition from cash to accrual accounting for central Government Departments and Offices, taking account of a wider reform agenda including the roll-out of the Financial Management Shared Services (FMSS) and developments at EU level concerning the future implementation of harmonised accounting standards – European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS). As part of the European Commission Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP), the OECD conducted an assessment of the central Government Accounting Framework and identified a road map for implementation of financial reporting reforms, including a move to accrual accounting. Following consultation with key stakeholders, the OECD published its report Financial Reporting in Ireland in June, setting out its key findings and recommending a phased implementation approach. The following key initiatives were progressed:

Modernisation of Public Financial Reporting and Accounting: In October, the Government noted the range of reforms to Ireland’s public financial reporting and accounting system recommended by the OECD. It agreed an outline roadmap to implement them during 2019 and subsequent years, noting the need for a collaborative approach to take account of the financial management expertise that already exists across central Government.

Public Spending Code: The Public Spending Code is the continuously evolving set of rules, procedures, and guidance to ensure Value for Money for public expenditure across the Irish Public Service. In July 2019, the GAU published Circular 18/2019 which revised the Central Technical References and Economic Appraisal Parameters of the Public Spending Code. Further supplementary guidance material was published in December. Also in December, the GAU published Circular 24/2019 which among other things updated the Public Spending Code as it applies to capital expenditure and updated the guidance in relation to Public Private Partnerships.

2 Brexit and International Cooperation

2.1. Brexit

A dedicated Brexit/EU Unit is responsible for coordinating and overseeing Brexit, EU and other international issues across the Department and for contributing to the whole-of-Government response to Brexit.

Throughout 2019, the Unit continued to address the issues that have arisen as a consequence of the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, including its impact on Ireland’s future relationship with both the EU and the UK, notably with Northern Ireland. This work included coordination of the Departments’ preparations for Brexit in all scenarios, in line with the Government’s Contingency Action Plan, in areas such as public procurement, EU programmes and the infrastructure requirements at ports and airports. Budget 2020 was prepared on a no-deal basis and included specific measures aimed at continuing our ongoing and comprehensive response to the impact of Brexit across Government.

The Department supported the Minister as a member of the Cabinet Committee on Brexit, Foreign and European Affairs.

2.2. EU Matters

In a year that saw a new European Parliament and European Commission and the emergence of new priorities at an EU level, the Department contributed to the development of EU-related policy across Government, including through the work of the Interdepartmental Group on the EU and Brexit and related interdepartmental groups. The Brexit/EU Unit coordinates the EU issues for which the Department is responsible, as well as supporting the work of other Divisions, including through an attaché and support staff based in Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. These issues include public procurement, eGovernment, Cohesion policy, climate finance, the EU’s Staff Regulations, Public Sector information and whistleblowing.

2.3. North South Cooperation

While it was not possible to hold sectoral meetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) relating to the Special EU Programmes Body in 2019 due to the absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland, the Department continued to support work on North South cooperation undertaken under the auspices of the NSMC and by North South Implementation Bodies (NSIBs). In particular, the Department worked with counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Finance on financial governance issues relating to the North South Implementation Bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement, agreeing a new template Financial Memorandum in 2019.

2.4. EU Structural Funds Programmes

Ireland was successful in securing €1.2 billion of EU Structural Funds for the period 2014-2020. Of this, €411 million is for programmes co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for which the Department has overall responsibility. Some €610 million is allocated to the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills. A further €169 million is

devoted to the nine European Territorial Co-operation (ETC) Programmes, most notably the two North-South Programmes (PEACE IV and INTERREG IVA). During 2019, the Department worked closely with the ERDF Managing Authorities to meet Irelands N+3 deadline of 31 December 2019, ensuring no de-commitment of EU ERDF funding. ERDF receipts for 2019 amounted to €24.5 million. Details of some of the key initiatives progressed during 2019 are set out below:

North South Programmes: The Department worked closely with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) on oversight of the 2014-2020 cross-border PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. These programmes are 85% funded by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund and have a total value of €553 million. By the end of 2019, both programmes were fully committed, with 128 projects supported. The Department also commenced planning for the new PEACE PLUS programme proposed by the EU as a successor programme for both PEACE and INTERREG for the 2021-2027 period, working closely with SEUPB and the Department of Finance Northern Ireland.

European Territorial Cooperation: In addition to the North South Programmes, Ireland is also a partner in the Ireland Wales INTERREG Programme (which has a total value of almost €100 million over the 2014-2020 programming period), as well as a number of transnational programmes, namely the Atlantic Area, North West Europe, and the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programmes. The Department is currently engaged in the planning process for each of the three transnational programmes for the 2021-2027 programming period

ERDF Audit Authority: As the designated Audit Authority in Ireland for the 2014-2020 programming period, the Unit completed the audit of the 2017/18 Accounts resulting in an unqualified audit opinion. This was submitted to the European Commission together with the Authority’s Annual Control Report in February 2019. As part of the review of the 2018/19 Accounts, the Authority has completed 30 operations audits and conducted 16 systems audits across the two Regional Programmes. The Annual Control Report and unqualified audit opinion on the accounts were submitted in February 2020.

The Department hosted the Partnership Agreement Monitoring Committee (PAMC) in December for stakeholders and the Commission. This monitors progress on implementing the strategic objectives identified in the Partnership Agreement and provides updates on implementation issues.

The Department commenced formal engagement in relation to the development of the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreement and the ERDF Operational Programmes. In May 2019, it convened a Strategic Overview Programme Development Meeting (Horizon Scanning), a high level forum to discuss next steps/timelines for progression. The Department also undertook a review of programme structures for the next round of funding. Procurement for a Needs Analysis for the next round of programmes commenced in Q4 2019.

2.5. European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)

Policy

Negotiations that began in 2018 on the next round of Structural Funds are now moving towards completion. This process was commenced by the Commission’s publication of the

Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) on 2 May 2018. This was followed by the publication of its Cohesion Policy Legislative package on 29 May, along with initial indicative allocations of structural and cohesion fund support for each member state. Ireland’s allocation was estimated at €1.088 billion at the time but its final allocation, and the distribution across the various Funds, will not be confirmed until after the conclusion of negotiations on the MFF (although it expected that it will ultimately be lower). In the period since, the Council’s position on the overall package has been agreed and negotiations are progressing with the European Parliament with a view to having them completed in advance of the start of the next programming period.

3 Public Service Pay, Pensions and Industrial Relations

3.1. Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020

The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts 2009-2013 have underpinned public service pay and pension reductions since 2009. Collectively, the savings from these measures played a crucial part in the stabilisation of the public finances.

The Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020 was negotiated to provide for further sustainable unwinding of these measures, a process that commenced under FEMPI 2015. The agreement, which continues to serve as the industrial relations framework for the Public Service until end-2020, continued in 2019 to provide benefits to different income groups of between 2-2.5% on average, through a mixture of reform of the Pension Related Deduction and pay increases. As a result, the phased unwinding of the FEMPI Acts 2009-2013 has almost been completed.

The conversion of the Pension Related Deduction from a temporary emergency measure into a permanent Additional Superannuation Contribution was also accomplished, securing a funding stream of just over €650 million in 2019 to help meet the costs of public service pensions.

In March 2019, implementation of the agreement reached between the Government and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions commenced on the remaining salary scale issues for New Entrants. Over time, this will give an average benefit of approximately €3,300 for over 61,500 new entrants, in addition to the core benefits provided under the Public Service Stability Agreement. The cost of this agreement has been phased to ensure the estimated €200 million full year expenditure requirement is fiscally sustainable.

The PSSA has provided the flexibility to address various issues in 2019 in a fair and sustainable manner, including the remaining salary scale issues for new entrants, recruitment and retention difficulties in the Public Service, and industrial relations issues in the Health Sector.

3.2. Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC)

The Public Service Pay Commission was established in 2016 to advise Government on public service remuneration policy and has delivered four reports in total. The Commission’s initial mandate was to report on how the unwinding of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation 2009 to 2013 should proceed. This was covered in the Commission’s first report, published in May 2017.

Following on from this, the Minister issued additional Terms of Reference, asking the Commission to establish whether, and to what extent, a difficulty existed in terms of recruitment and retention for specific groups/grades/sectors of the Public Service. It adopted a modular approach, reporting in August 2018 on issues relating to Nursing and Midwifery, Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and Hospital Consultants. In May 2019 it published its third report which related to the Defence Forces and its proposals were accepted by Government and the relevant staff representatives. Its final report was published in October 2019, marking the conclusion of its work programme and the expiry of its mandate. This report

provided a high level analysis of the remaining grades and specialities which were highlighted in its May 2017 report as showing evidence of recruitment and retention difficulties. These included specialist grades in the public service, senior posts and certain public service health professional grades.

3.3. Industrial Relations

Management of Industrial Relations The Department worked intensively over 2019 to manage significant industrial relations challenges. There were significant disputes in the Health Service involving Nurses and Midwives in Q1 2019 and Health Support Grades in Q3. The Department was actively engaged in the dispute resolution processes for both of these disputes, contributing to the development of creative solutions within the framework of the PSSA. These solutions:

protected citizens who depend on vital public services;

balanced the concerns of the employees, the employer and the taxpayer; and

phased the impact over time and minimised the cost to the Exchequer.

The Labour Court Recommendation on Nursing and Midwifery is predicated on a new contract that will deliver additional productivity and support the roll-out of Sláintecare.

The Civil Service Industrial Relations Graduate Programme A new initiative, the Civil Service Industrial Relations Graduate Programme, was designed to support the development of IR Executives with the skills and knowledge required to effectively manage industrial relations in a complex and diverse environment. It commenced in March 2019, with its first 6 participants. The programme runs over two years and involves three work experience rotations of 8 months duration, giving participants practical experience in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Workplace Relations Commission. Participants are also required to complete a bespoke Professional Diploma in Industrial Relations at NFQ Level 8, which has been designed to meet the particular needs of the Civil Service IR environment.

3.4. Single Public Service Pension Scheme

The Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”), which was introduced in 2013 for all new entrants to the Public Service, is operated by over 350 public service employers across all sectors. The Single Scheme Administration Project (SSAP) team is a dedicated unit, established in the Department in 2016 to examine the options for the long-term administration of the Scheme and to support the current administration of the Scheme. During 2019, the unit continued to provide an extensive technical training programme to pension administrators. In addition to the 5 modules previously developed, a new Purchase and Transfer module was designed. All 6 modules were delivered across 30 training workshop sessions. A total of 613 pension administrators from 191 public service employers participated in 2019. Supporting materials, including templates, guidelines and toolkits, continued to be made available via the dedicated Single Pension Scheme website. On-boarding of public service bodies to the Single Scheme Databank commenced in Q3 2019. Following a Government decision, the databank was established as an interim measure to ensure that membership data for all Scheme members since 2013 is maintained to a common standard pending a decision on the long-term administration of the Single Scheme.

In 2019, the Department also made significant progress on the development of policy for the Single Scheme. Regulations which introduced a “purchase and transfer” facility for Single Scheme members were introduced in June 2019, while a review of Single Scheme employer contributions was completed and revised guidance on vesting policy was issued.

3.5. Other Pay and Pensions matters

Civil Service Starting Pay Arrangements Revised starting pay arrangements were agreed between the Official and Staff sides at General Council in 2019. The arrangements, which were introduced under DPER Circular 08/2019: Revised Arrangements Applying to Starting Pay, modernised and simplified the way existing civil servants are treated in terms of pay-setting when promoted from confined competitions or appointed/recruited from open competitions. Actuarial Review of Public Service Pension Liabilities In 2019, the Department commenced the data collection phase for the triennial actuarial review of public service pensions. The review, which is being carried out on behalf of the Central Statistics Office, is required under EU Regulation 549/2013 and will be completed in 2020. The data collection phase involved the collection and collation of individual member data from across the Public Service, involving approximatively 500,000 individual records from almost 300 Public Service Bodies and will be used to value the accrued liability of public service occupational pensions in Ireland as at 31 December 2018.The previous valuation was published in 2017 and set out the accrued liability of public service pensions as at 31 December 2015. Public Service Pensions Management Programme In Q1 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Division developed the Public Service Pensions Management Programme. This innovative knowledge management and succession planning initiative harvests internal expertise on public service pensions and facilitates knowledge transfer. Detailed training materials were developed within the Division to underpin this bespoke NFQ Level 6 Certificate Course in Public Service Pensions Management. During 2019, 35 participants from the Pay and Pensions Division completed the Certificate Course, increasing the number of divisional officers with specialist pensions knowledge.

4 Civil Service Renewal

4.1. Civil Service Renewal Plan

The Civil Service Renewal Plan sets out a major programme of change for the Civil Service and a vision to provide a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland. The Programme Management Office (PMO), which is located in the Department, works on developing and delivering Civil Service reform policy under the Civil Service Renewal programme. It continued to coordinate and drive the implementation of actions in the plan during 2019. The fourth progress report on the Civil Service Renewal Plan was published in May 2019 setting out the high level progress achieved in all of the actions in the plan since its implementation. Developmental work progressed to inform a new Vision and Strategy which will build on the progress made to date in Civil Service reform, identify a number of new priorities and align with Our Public Service 2020, the framework for public service development and innovation. A taskforce of senior civil servants was established to oversee the development of the Vision and Strategy in December 2019. It is expected that the new Vision and Strategy will have a longer planning horizon and will be informed by an extensive stakeholder engagement process. The PMO also continued to work closely with and supported the Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) which oversees the delivery of the Civil Service Renewal Programme. The CSMB met six times over the course of the year and its minutes are published on Gov.ie. A sub-group of the CSMB also played a key role in the People Strategy for the Civil Service. The following key initiatives were undertaken:

Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey: The PMO continued to assist Departments and Offices in the implementation of their Action Plans in response to the findings of the 2017 Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey results. The third iteration of the survey will take place in Q3 2020.

Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards: The 2019 Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards were presented by the Minister at a ceremony in Dublin Castle in November 2019. The awards celebrate the significant contributions that civil servants make and showcase innovations in policy and service delivery across the Civil Service. The 2019 awards process attracted over 90 nominations from across the Civil Service and 32 projects were shortlisted, with 11 award-winning projects. This year, several categories included collaboration with the Public Service, to reflect a more inclusive way of working. Details on the award-winning projects are available on Gov.ie.

Organisational Capability Reviews: Implementation of the programme of organisational capability reviews continued during the year with the completion of reviews for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Shaping the Future of Work in the Civil Service in Ireland: DCU Business School completed a report into the findings of the 2017 Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey. The report entitled Shaping the Future of Work in the Civil Service in Ireland focuses on a number of the most challenging areas highlighted in the survey including: Involvement Climate; Innovative Climate; Performance Management; and Public

Perception. The additional analysis took place across a range of Departments and Offices in a number of regions nationwide.

Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP): A successful application to the EU’s Structural Support Programme was submitted in relation to a comprehensive review of the organisational structure of the Irish Civil Service and development of a roadmap for organisational transformation. It is envisaged that work will begin on the project in 2020.

Civil Service Customer Satisfaction Survey: The results of the 2019 Civil Service Customer Satisfaction Survey were published in November 2019. The report showed that 85% of customers surveyed were satisfied with both the service received (up from 83% in 2017 and 76% in 2015) and the outcome of their most recent contact with the Civil Service (up from 82% in 2017 and 76% in 2015), while dissatisfaction declined from 39% in 2009 to 20% in 2019. Furthermore, 89% of customers indicated that service levels are mostly meeting or exceeding expectations (up from 87% in 2017 and 83% in 2015), and 87% were satisfied with both the knowledge and helpfulness of staff. The public’s perceptions of Civil Service efficiency, trust, independence and equality have also all improved since 2017.

National Data Infrastructure (NDI): Further progress was made on developing the National Data Infrastructure in 2019. The Champions Group, chaired by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), with representatives from all Departments and agencies with high value data, monitors and promotes coverage of key identifiers across public sector data holdings. The NDI dashboard, developed by the group, summarises the coverage of record-level PPSNs and Eircodes for key data holdings of Government Departments and agencies under their aegis and identifies where opportunities exist for improved coverage of the PPSN and Eircode in administrative systems and processes. These improvements will support Public Service Body-specific initiatives in the first instance and support the broader initiative of data sharing as proposed in the Data Sharing and Governance Act. It is envisaged that this approach will extend to the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) in 2020.

Other Strategies/Programmes: Further progress was made in relation to the Government Communications Programme with the roll-out of the Government of Ireland identity and transitioning of Departments to Gov.ie, the portal for Government services and information. Steps were also taken to improve project management capacity in the Civil Service and to align it with Action 10 of Our Public Service 2020 to embed programme and project management. The Project Managers’ Network held four events during the year. The Network is now available to the wider public service with a new dedicated portal on the OPS 2020 website which is accessible to all including public servants that are not on the Government Network. OneLearning continued to deliver the foundation level course in project management for civil servants and approximately 1,680 officials have completed the course since it began in late 2017.

An ongoing communications and engagement programme for staff including Civil Service Renewal newsletters, town hall meetings around the country and staff information sessions for civil servants continued in 2019. A new identity to better communicate Civil Service reform and innovation and public service reform, which was developed during 2019, was implemented in early 2020.

4.2. People Strategy for the Civil Service 2017-2020

The Civil Renewal Programme also encompasses the People Strategy for the Civil Service 2017-2020, which was developed to take account of the Public Service Duty requirement set out in section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The Strategy’s objectives were supported through the implementation by the Department of a number of key initiatives under the three strategic priorities and one enabling priority of the Strategy, as set out below.

4.2.1. Be an Employer of Choice Work continued to promote the Civil Service as an Employer of Choice for existing staff and potential new recruits, including through the following projects and areas of work:

Learning and Development – OneLearning is the Civil Service Learning and Development Centre. Since its launch in September 2017, training has been delivered to over 27,500 attendees in 44 Civil Service bodies in 25 counties. In 2019, over 1,100 course sessions took place with over 12,500 in attendance.

In May 2019, the Learning Management System (LMS) went live in 7 Civil Service Bodies with all remaining bodies going live in October, 2019. It enables reporting on learning and development activity and engagement and spend on OneLearning courses across the Civil Service. There are 67 courses currently available, with 8,000 staff enrolled in course sessions and over 9,000 have registered interest in various courses. It has increased the availability of open enrolment courses, supporting shared learning, collaboration and networking across all civil service bodies. It will also enable digital learning (eLearning, webinars, videos etc.) and the future implementation of a Civil Service Skills Register.

Graduate Development: 208 recruits at Administrative Officer (AO) and Third Secretary level participated in the Civil Service Graduate Development Programme during 2019. This nine-month, on-the-job, interactive development programme provides learning opportunities on a range of topics including: leadership styles; project management; innovation and problem solving; Government accounting; evidence-based policy making; and the legislative process. Programme participants had access to senior civil service leaders and to an AO Network.

The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) contributes to organisational effectiveness through the regional delivery of services which promote employee health and wellbeing, and foster a resilient workforce. An estimated 14% of civil servants now use the Service annually, availing of information and support from the CSEAS in relation to a variety of personal and/or work-related issues. Demand for these services is on the rise, with an increase of 20% from 2018 to 2019. A key activity of the CSEAS in 2019 was the promotion of the People Manager Guide for the Civil Service, with over 30 presentations delivered to people managers, reaching approximately 540 target staff. Also, to date over 200 presentations in the area of workplace wellbeing have been delivered to staff across the Civil Service.

4.2.2. Build the Workforce of the Future

A key focus during 2019 was to strengthen the systems in place across the Civil Service aimed at having the right people with the right skills in the right place at the right time, including the following:

Strategic Workforce Planning: In collaboration with key stakeholders, the Department has continued to develop a more focused workforce planning process through the design of template plans, guidelines and timelines. There has also been a greater focus on data management and capability development, to assist Local HR teams to work with their departments in planning the numbers and skills required for their workforce of the future.

Recruitment: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) assigned c. 6,400 people on behalf of the Civil Service. As part of an ongoing programme to create professional streams and increase the specialist skills available, the PAS recruited Graduate Policy Analysts and Economists (36); EO (ICT) (50); HEO (ICT) (40); Communication Specials (17) and AP (HR) Managers (18) alongside core Civil Service skills. The first ICT apprenticeship scheme was launched and a review of eligibility requirements for competitions was carried out.

The Civil Service Mobility Scheme, which commenced in 2015 with the launch of a scheme for Principal Officers (PO), is being undertaken over a number of phases. To date 100 PO roles have been advertised and 58 positions filled to end-December 2019. Mobility for Clerical Officers and Executive Officers went live in September 2018 and circa 5,150 staff (25% of the total participating grades) have applied and over 500 have moved at end-December 2019. The next phase, in respect of the grades of HEO, AO and AP, is on target to launch in 2020.

Strengthening Professional Expertise within Corporate Functions: Work continued on strengthening professional expertise within the Human Resource Management, Finance and ICT functions in the Civil Service. The primary focus has been on developing a HR Operating Model (see details under section 5.2.4, below) and conducting a review of HR Career Framework and Standards. As noted above, work was completed on the new ICT apprenticeship programme, which was launched in early 2019. In Finance, a position paper has been drafted with a number of recommendations on next steps to professionalise the Finance function. The initial focus area is the OECD Assessment of Accounting Framework.

4.2.3. Build, Support and Value Managers as People

Developers

Work continued under the People Strategy on a range of projects that reflect a culture of

valuing and developing strategic leadership capability, including good people management

at all levels. These included:

Building Leadership: A number of bespoke support and development initiatives for the most senior civil service leaders were delivered, including: Masterclasses; Executive Coaching for in excess of 40 senior leaders; Five Senior Public Service (SPS) networking events focused on core challenges facing the Civil Service and its leaders: Mentoring for recently appointed Assistant Secretaries; and the management of the Assistant Secretary Mobility process in respect of 18 posts. A review of a Management Team Coaching pilot, involving three Departments, commenced in late-2019.

In addition, work continued on strengthening the pipeline of future senior civil service leaders. The second iteration of the Senior Public Service (SPS) and PO Talent Development Programmes was completed by 61 participants and an independent external evaluation was undertaken. The results of the evaluation were very positive and will be used to inform the design and delivery of the 2020 programmes.

Strengthening People Managers: The Department is driving a significant project aimed

at improving how we manage our people. Working with HR experts across the system,

good progress was made during 2019 on defining the People Manager role and

developing a suite of metrics to assess managers in that role.

As noted above, a key activity of the CSEAS in 2019 was the promotion of the People

Manager Guide for the Civil Service. The positive impact of this guide (and its associated

educational campaign) continued throughout 2019, as increases in usage of the CSEAS

were observed in the grades of HEO, AP and PO.

Training for managers: People managers across the civil service availed of 187

courses from OneLearning’s portfolio of Team Work and People Management courses in

2019. In total, 3,833 people managers have attended this training since the courses

commenced at the end of 2017.

Devolving responsibility to mangers: To improve and simplify the arrangements for managing performance in the Civil Service, the Department progressed the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill. This will enable the devolution of management functions to managers at different levels across the Civil Service.

Better data for managers: During 2019, the Department developed a proposal for a suite of metrics to support managers in managing their staff.

4.2.4. Position HR as a Strategic Driver Work is ongoing on a number of projects to ensure that HR in the Civil Service adapts and responds to the evolving demands from the business and delivers on the three strategic priorities of the People Strategy.

An external review funded by the EU Commission, titled HR Operating Model (HROM) Review, was carried out in 2019. It recommended that radical changes are needed in how HR works in the Civil Service in order to ensure value for money and maximise talent and performance of the workforce. The HROM Review sets out six high level recommendations for HR as the basis for the next stage of the project, which involves the detailed design, testing and implementation of these recommendations through a proof of concept pilot in three Departments in 2020.

HR Analytics: The Department made a significant investment in developing its first ever set of HR Analytics for the civil service to support evidence-based decision making in HR. This data will be used as a baseline to measure the benefits and impacts of the People Strategy both now and into the future. Further work has also been initiated on the development of a suite of analytics to support HR at organisational level.

HR Policies: New Policies aimed at improving the services of HR were in development during 2019, with significant progress been made on the area of attendance management including: Management of Attendance Policy; Guidance for Employers on

Reasonable Accommodation; Guidelines for Probation; and Guidance on Ill-Health Retirement.

4.3. Public Service Sick Leave

Significant progress was made towards the implementation of changes to Public Service Sick Leave scheme as recommended by the Labour Court. These changes included:

The application of a flat rate of 37.5% of Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR) with a top up model available for a period of five years to those who may have previously accessed a higher rate of TRR;

A 3-day waiting period before TRR is applied in circumstances where full and half pay limits have been exhausted; and

All paid sick leave including TRR to now be included in the lookback process that is carried out to determine future access to paid sick leave.

These recommendations are on schedule for implementation in 2020 and are intended to simplify the scheme as well as increasing efficiency and equality of access to the scheme across the Public Service.

5 Public Service Reform

5.1. Our Public Service 2020

Our Public Service 2020, the framework for public service development and innovation became operational in 2018 and was developed to take account of the Public Service Duty requirement set out in section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. It contains 18 actions under the following three pillars:

Delivering for our Public;

Innovating for our Future; and

Developing our People and Organisations.

As well as innovation and working collaboratively across whole of Government, the framework emphasises the importance of digital delivery and using data to achieve greater efficiency. It also has a strong focus on organisations and people, with actions in areas such as strategic human resources, employee engagement, performance management, and culture and values, as well as greater focus on achieving real change and outcomes. Details of the action team membership and work programme updates are posted to the OPS2020 website. In addition to the six (of 18) actions already commenced in 2018, six further actions were prioritised for advancement during 2019, with continued sharing of good practice, experience and expertise across sectors by participants. Developments under the key themes during 2019 were as follows:

Innovation in Governance: An innovative, strengthened, model of governance was established in 2018 to oversee implementation of the actions in Our Public Service 2020. This involves a Public Service Leadership Board (PSLB), with Secretary General/CEO level participation drawn from the Civil Service Management Board and representatives from a broad range of Public Service organisations. This met on three occasions in 2019. The PSLB is, in turn, supported by the Public Service Management Group (PSMG), with Assistant Secretaries and equivalent participation from across the Civil and Public Service. This also met on three occasions in 2019.

Monitoring Our Public Service 2020: The First Progress Report of Our Public Service 2020 was published. A database of the reforms that are being undertaken across the public service under the OPS 2020 has also been developed and populated. Work commenced on identifying indicators linked to the 3 Pillars of Our Public Service 2020

Promoting Innovation: Our Public Service 2020 contains a number of initiatives to promote a culture of innovation across the Public Service. In 2019, the following progress has been made:

Innovation practitioners have been seconded into the Department’s Reform Office from across different a number of different areas of the Public Service to support public servants in driving innovation in their organisations;

The Public Service Reform Office was approved for funding under the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Service Programme to develop a public service innovation strategy, to create a skills framework for public service innovation and to design an innovation in leadership learning and development intervention;

43 organisations have signed up to Ireland’s Declaration on public service innovation which had been developed based on the OECD declaration, tailored to Ireland;

The Public Service Innovation Network was established in September 2019 and has a membership of over 430 public servants from across all sectors;

A pilot Public Service Innovation Fund was launched, with 18 diverse projects from across all sectors receiving funding totalling over €500,000;

The first public service-wide innovation week was held in December, where teams explored innovation, collaborated on ideas and participated in over 200 events and activities across the country. Over 600 people attended the Innovation Conference held in Dublin Castle where the programme featured over 20 speakers and showcased great examples of innovation in our public service. In addition, over 500 people participated in innovation workshops, called Faster Classes;

A Public Service Innovation Newsletter was developed and issued to promote events and opportunities for public servants;

The Reform Office and the Institute for Public Administration developed a Professional Diploma in Public Service Innovation. The first intake is March 2020. Additionally, over 140 public service managers were placed on a 2-day ‘Essentials of Innovation’ course from across the wider public service. A further suite of interventions were also developed for rollout during 2020; and

The Public Service Reform Office collaborated with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer to produce Cruinniú Govtech and develop Ireland’s action plan to embed GovTech in Ireland.

Civil Service General Customer Satisfaction Survey: 2019 saw the eighth of a

series of surveys (since 1997) of the general public undertaken on behalf of the Department by an independent opinion research company to determine satisfaction levels with services received from civil service departments and major offices. Overall satisfaction levels for service delivery and outcome in the 2019 survey were the highest recorded to date:

85% of customers were satisfied with both the service received (up from 83% in 2017 and 76% in 2015) and the outcome of their most recent contact with the civil service (up from 82% in 2017 and 76% in 2015)

89% indicated that service levels are mostly meeting or exceeding expectations (up from 87% in 2017 and 83% in 2015)

Quality Customer Service: During 2019, the Quality Customer Service Network (QCSN) expanded to the wider Public Service as part of OPS2020, increasing its membership across all sectors. The Customer Communications Toolkit for the Public Service, includes guidance on general writing style principles, verbal and non-verbal communications, design of forms and documents, web and social media content and how to display signage. This was reviewed and revised during 2019 by the Reform and Delivery Office in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and is available on the OPS2020 website.

Other deliverables in 2019 under the four active themes in the Developing our People and Organisations Pillar of OPS 2020 included: a strategic HR Managers Network was established to drive the people initiatives emerging under Pillar 3; continuous and Professional Development, Strategic Workforce Planning, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

A Research Paper on Strategic Workforce Planning in the Irish Public Service, commissioned from the IPA, was published and a Cross Sectoral Action Team

established to promote initiatives in equality, diversity and inclusion. A Diversity and Innovation Conference was held in October 2019, in which over 250 Public Service Leaders participated.

Robotic Process Automation: The Department worked in conjunction with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to publish a framework agreement for Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This framework allows all public service bodies to drawdown RPA services from an agreed supplier, which will save Public Service bodies significant time and money when investigating and implementing RPA. A key aspect of the framework agreement is that it will enable the transfer of RPA skills from the supplier to the public service body so that it may become fully proficient in this emerging technology. The Department also assisted the HSE in developing its first pilot on the roll-out of RPA, which is expected to begin operations in 2020. As part of its ongoing obligations to upskill public servants in alternative models of service delivery, the Department held a number of information sessions for public servants on RPA. RPA is now operational in at least seven public service bodies and is under exploration and testing in a variety of others.

Benefacts: The Department provided grant-aid to Benefacts, a non-profit social enterprise established to make the work and funding of the non-profit sector in Ireland more transparent. Benefacts’ online database provides free public access to regulatory, financial and governance data on some 30,000 organisations, including all registered charities and thousands of other non-profit organisations, such as education institutions, social enterprises and sports and professional bodies. The data is also provided in open formats on the Government’s Open Data Portal, where it can be accessed for free.

5.2. Openness, Transparency and Accountability

The Department further advanced its programme of reforms aimed at delivering open, accountable and ethical government. The following key initiatives were undertaken:

Open Government Partnership (OGP) is an initiative of over 70 countries which aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. It is run by a steering committee composed of governments and civil society organisations. Ireland’s End-Term Self-Assessment Report on the OGP National Action Plan 2016-2018 includes detailed reports on the implementation of each of 15 commitments in the plan. During 2019, the Department engaged with the recently established Open Government Association Ireland to design a more effective process for creating and implementing Ireland’s next National Action Plan,

Open Data: The Department continues to be a leader in Open Data as Ireland retained first place in the EU Open Data Maturity survey in 2019 for the third year in a row. Ireland also improved its ranking for Open Data to third place in the OECD. This was achieved through the continued implementation of the national Open Data Strategy 2017-2022.

At end 2019, the national Open Data Portal contained links to over 9,500 datasets from over 100 publishers and 595 public servants had received open data training. The Open Data Engagement Fund 2019/2020, which promotes use of datasets on the open data portal, provided total funding of €40,000 to 10 successful projects.

The Department participated in a number of seminars and conferences during the year to promote the release of government data by public bodies and reuse of open data by SME’s, academia, media and citizens for social and economic purposes. The Department also organised an Open Data Conference in Dublin in November 2019 which addressed the theme of ‘Open Data Challenges and Opportunities’ and was attended by over 130 delegates. The Department collaborates with open data counterparts in other Member States and during 2019 hosted visits from Poland and Northern Ireland. The Open Data and PSI Directive negotiated by the Department in 2019 will further drive the release of data in open formats, via APIs and for free.

5.3. Legislative and Public Governance Measures

The following key legislative and public governance initiatives were progressed:

Freedom of Information: The Central Policy Unit (CPU) for FOI at the Department continues to support implementation and policy development in relation to the FOI regime. This includes providing support and advice by telephone and email through the FOI helpdesk to stakeholders including citizens, business, journalists and academics, as well as to some 600 FOI bodies. The CPU has also chaired 8 FOI Network meetings, held workshop sessions at venues throughout the country, presented at a number of other conferences and training events, developed new guidelines and maintained and updated content on the foi.gov.ie website.

Protected Disclosures: The Department continues to support implementation and policy development in relation to the operation of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, which provides a single, over-arching and generally applicable regime for the protection of workers who speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace. Act. During 2019, it was involved in negotiations on proposals for an EU Directive on the protection of whistle-blowers, the final text of which (Directive (EU) 2019/1937) was adopted on 23 October. The Department has commenced preparatory work on the transposition of the Directive. It was supported in this by an inter-departmental network, established in 2018, which met three times in 2019.

Data Sharing and Governance: The Data Sharing and Governance Act, which was progressed through the Oireachtas by the Department, was signed into law on 4 March 2019. It provides a statutory framework for the promotion and encouragement of data sharing between public bodies for legitimate and clearly specified purposes compliant with data protection law. Two parts of the Act were commenced in April: Part 5, which relates to the sharing of public service information; and Part 6, which relates to the creation of Unique Business Identifiers. Preparatory work on the commencement of the remaining parts – in particular the establishment of a Data Governance Board – was advanced during the year with a number of workshops with key public service bodies held in 2019.

Regulation of Lobbying: The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 established a web-based register of lobbying activity to deliver appropriate transparency on “who is contacting whom about what”. Lobbyists are required to register and make their returns with the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Commission) if they engage in lobbying activities, with returns required every 4 months. Approximately 40,000 returns have been submitted to the register and approximately 1,950 persons and organisations have registered on the register.

The Act requires that its provisions be reviewed periodically. The second statutory review process was launched on 12 April 2019 and concluded on 10 May. The report of the review was published in February 2020. The Department also progressed a regulation (S.I. 144/2019) under the Act to amend the list of Designated Public Officials in respect of the Office of Public Works.

Ethics: The Department continued to attend meetings of the Review Group, chaired by James Hamilton, which is reviewing Ireland's criminal justice structures to combat economic crime and corruption. The Review Group will submit its report to the Minister for Justice and Equality in 2020.

The Department also provided feedback to the Standards in Public Office Commission in relation to an Information Notice from the Commission regarding 'Gifts to Office Holders'. A new Chair was appointed to the Outside Appointments Board during 2019. The Board provides independent scrutiny of post-employment appointments of certain civil servants and advisors that are taken up within one year of resigning or retiring from the Civil Service. The Public Sector Standards Bill 2015, which was being progressed by the Department during 2019, fell in February 2020 on the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil.

Engagement with International Organisations: The Department provided material for the UN Convention against Corruption's (UNCAC) full Country report for Ireland of the implementation of Chapters II (Preventive Measures) and V (Asset Recovery) of UNCAC.

In September 2019, it provided material for Ireland's Fourth Round interim compliance report to GRECO (Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption) regarding the recommendations outstanding from the Fourth Round Evaluation of Ireland. The interim compliance report will be discussed at the GRECO plenary meeting in March 2020. The Department also provided material to the GRECO Fifth Round evaluation questionnaire in 2019. This is the first stage in the evaluation process and will be followed by an on-site visit to Ireland by the evaluation team in April 2020. The evaluation is focused on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central government (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies.

6 Digital Government

6.1. Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

(OGCIO)

The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has a broad and varied remit which includes:

ICT service delivery;

oversight of ICT-related expenditure across the Public Service; and

technology policy for Government, including where this intersects with EU initiatives such as the eGovernment Action Plan, ISA2 programme, the Single Digital Gateway and eIDAS Regulations.

The OGCIO leads the implementation of a range of strategies such as: the Public Service ICT Strategy; the eGovernment Strategy 2017-2020; the implementation of Action 1 (Accelerate Digital Delivery of Services) of Our Public Service 2020 to support continuous development and innovation across the Public Service; and the Public Service Data Strategy 2019-2023. To deliver on its remit:

OGCIO works in collaboration with government departments and agencies across the Civil and Public Service to drive the Government’s transformation agenda. It plays a leadership role in digital service delivery and innovation initiatives across the Public Service; has oversight of ICT-related expenditure by Departments and agencies;, and represents Ireland at EU level in relation to public service ICT, digital and eGovernment, and at Government CIO working groups and forums in other multilateral organisations.

OGCIO is the division responsible for delivering ICT services in the Department. The Department’s Governance Committee oversees and directs ICT developments and service delivery to the Department in the context of the ICT Governance Framework.

The OGCIO is also responsible for the roll-out of Strategic ICT and Digital Transformation Programmes. It plays a leadership role across the Civil and Public Service to drive the implementation of the Government’s reform agenda in relation to ICT and digital delivery.

6.2. Public Service ICT Strategy Key Achievements

2019

The 18-Step Action Plan for the Public Service ICT Strategy was the outcome of collaboration between the Government CIO and department CIOs and Heads of ICT. It seeks to take forward the five strategic themes of the strategy: Build to Share, Digital First, Data as an Enabler, Improve Governance, and Increase Capability. Details of the progress made under each pillar is set out below.

6.2.1. Build to Share

The Build to Share pillar seeks to move to a shared model for ICT service delivery, to support integration and sharing of resources across the wider public service while driving efficiency and controlling costs. The Build to Share suite (BTS) takes a number of forms and already has a very broad client base of organisations availing of some, or all, of the BTS services catalogue:

Build to Share Government Networks offers cost-effective, resilient, carrier-grade, high speed network services for voice, video, and data, to all public service bodies and enables secure inter-agency connectivity. Public service bodies in approximately 70 towns and cities around the country now have access to high speed, resilient network connectivity and the roll-out, which continued nationwide during the year, is currently made up of in excess of 800 network nodes. Delivery of a managed LAN service to Public Service Bodies (PSB), which commenced in 2018, is now in use by multiple agencies. Take-up of the centralised shared Wi-Fi infrastructure, which allows PSBs to deploy secure corporate and guest wireless networks in multiple locations with minimum investment in infrastructure, has increased with over ten agencies live and a number of others running proof of concepts. New IP Telephony infrastructure has been deployed centrally and in over 40 PSBs enabling resilient low cost calling across Government.

Build to Share Applications delivers a suite of corporate support applications common across government bodies. There is an ongoing roll-out programme to implement these applications across Departments which will continue, on a phased basis, through 2020 and beyond. Currently there are 40 public bodies on-boarded to the shared platform, each having adopted at least one application from the application suite, with over 100 iterations of these applications rolled out in total. A number of new applications were added to the suite during the year, including a new shared help desk system and a risk register system.

Build to Share Managed Desktop delivers the standard range of common end-user ICT services to public bodies. These include PCs, laptops, hybrid/tablet devices, office productivity suite, email, managed printing, video conferencing, local network, internet access, telephone and service desk support services as well as the associated underpinning hosting infrastructure and cyber security services. BTS Managed Desktop services were extended to additional organisations during 2019 including the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the National Council for Special Education and the President’s Establishment. OGCIO is now the provider of core corporate ICT desktop services to over 3,000 users in nine organisations spread across more than 30 locations nationwide. Plans are progressing to on-board further Government Departments/ Offices during 2020.

Build to Share Private Government Cloud is delivering a shared robust, resilient, private Government Cloud infrastructure platform. This Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is available for system/ application hosting to all Public Bodies. Plans are progressing to on-board further applications from Government Departments/Offices during 2020.

Build to Share Government Data Centre presents a further opportunity for sharing of

infrastructure enabling public service bodies to locate their ICT infrastructure in a

purpose-built Government owned and run facility. The design phase is complete and the

planning application, submitted to Kildare County Council, was approved in 2019 with a

number of conditions. The appeal of two of the conditions for the planning, submitted in

late 2019, will be heard in 2020.

6.2.2. Digital First

A Digital Leaders sub-group of the Civil Service Management Board was established in 2019 to oversee and accelerate digital transformation across the Public Service. On foot of the work of this group, a priority digital transformation programme has been agreed by Government and a shared Digital Agenda, encompassing all public bodies, has been established. The Digital Leaders Group, which extends to all sectors, will continue to monitor and drive digital transformation into 2020. The OGCIO has continued to develop and promote shared digital assets that improve consistency and efficiencies in the front and back-end provision of public services. Initiatives include the increased adoption of MyGovID, a common online authentication mechanism for use by public bodies which reaches over 475,000 verified accounts; the gov.ie portal, which presents a unified and consistent front to government information services, merged eight Government Department websites during 2019 and aims to encompass the remainder by the end of 2020; and the Revenue Online Service (ROS) process for authenticating businesses online has been enabled for reuse by pubic bodies other than the Revenue Commissioners via a recent legislative amendment.

6.2.3. Data as an Enabler

The Public Service Data Strategy, published in December 2018, aims to put in place a series of measures to improve how data is governed, managed and re-used in a secure, efficient and transparent manner for the benefit of citizens, businesses and policy makers. During 2019 the OGCIO held a series of inter-departmental workshops to put in place a resourcing and implementation plan to oversee the execution of the data strategy actions over the coming years. Work on a number of key actions within the strategy were carried out, including the enactment of the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019, and the development of the Digital Postbox service. Work to rollout the Digital Postbox service, a secure digital alternative to letter sending by public bodies, will commence in 2020.

6.2.4. Improve Governance

The OGCIO continues to work with departments and agencies to take forward the implementation of the programme of ICT and digital transformation strategies and initiatives across Government. The ICT Advisory Board, which reports to the Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) through the Government CIO, continues to meet regularly to participate in and oversee the delivery of the 18 Step Action Plan. As lead for Action 1 of Our Public Service 2020, Accelerate Digital Delivery of Services, the Government CIO has regular engagements to encourage dialogue and ideas sharing and programme implementation between central and local government, An Garda Síochána and the health and education sectors.

6.2.5. Increased Capability

The year saw good progress with the implementation of the ICT HR Professionalisation Strategy, which is designed to ensure that the Civil Service has the right blend of skills,

knowledge and expertise available internally to deliver effective digital government services to citizens, businesses and civil servants. The ICT HR Working Group, a sub-group of the ICT Advisory Board, is progressing a number of actions to put in place the career spine for ICT, supported by appropriate recruitment, retention and mobility measures, as well as a skills development framework and suite of learning interventions. Among other things, a new cycle of ICT-related common recruitment campaigns took place during 2019. In addition, the pilot Civil Service Apprentice ICT Specialist programme was commenced. This is a two-year earn as you learn scheme in association with FastTrack to IT (FIT), the national coordinating provider for ICT Tech Apprenticeships, which seeks to tap into a new talent pipeline for ICT in the Civil Service. 34 Apprentice ICT Specialists started their two year programme in April 2019 and were placed with 11 Civil Service employers.

6.3. eGovernment Strategy 2017-2020

The eGovernment Strategy 2017-2020 is underpinned by the Government’s commitment to be open, flexible and collaborative with our citizens and businesses, using digitisation and technology to increase efficiency and effectiveness and constantly improve public services. It is underpinned by number of key principles, aligned with the EU eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020, which will drive its implementation. These are: Digital By Default; Once Only Principle; Inclusiveness & Accessibility; Openness & Transparency; Cross-Border By Default; Interoperability By Default; and Trustworthiness & Security. Progress continues to be made on delivery on each of the 10 key actions of the Strategy in the context of the delivery of the OGCIO’s overarching work programme across a range of strategies and initiatives.

6.4. Public Service Data Strategy 2019-2023

Underpinning a range of the initiatives set out in this Annual Report is the Public Service Data Strategy 2019-2023. This was developed in consultation with all Departments, including the Central Statistics Office (CSO), and sets out a detailed vision, with a set of goals and actions, to deliver a more joined-up, whole-of-Government, approach to how data is used and managed within the Public Service. It aims to put in place a series of measures to improve how data is governed, managed and re-used in a secure, efficient and transparent manner for the benefit of citizens, businesses and policy makers. The strategy builds upon existing data initiatives such as the National Data Infrastructure (NDI), which concerns the identification of people, businesses and location; and the Data Sharing and Governance Act (DSGA), which sets out a legal framework for the sharing and governance of data across Government. This strategy focuses on how Government is going to build on these initiatives, and to reuse data in a secure and transparent way, delivering services and creating policies in a more modern, agile and informed manner. The strategy’s implementation will put Government in a better place to respond to service demands in an agile manner by: Providing more joined-up and integrated, end-to-end digital services; Better processes for policy formulation and evaluation; Improving protection and transparency of personal data processing; and Reducing administration by cutting the need for businesses and citizens to provide the

same data over and over again.

6.5. Engaging at EU and International Level

During the year, OGCIO continued to monitor developments and represented Ireland at international activities where relevant. In particular, it engaged with EU committees and working groups including:

the European Commission’s ISA2 Committee and related groups;

the European eGovernment Action Plan Steering Board;

eIDAS technical and policy committees;

the Single Digital Gateway Regulation Coordination Group; and

the European Blockchain Partnership. Engagement with the EU will continue to be an important focus for OGCIO during 2020. In addition, the engagement with the OECD has stepped up and will also be a focus of attention in 2020. Ireland ranked in 7th place of the 28 Member States, up one place from 2018, in the EU Digital Economy and Society Index 2019. This is a composite index summarising indicators on Europe’s digital performance across Connectivity, Human Capital/Digital skills, Use of Internet Services by citizens, Integration of Digital Technology by businesses, Digital Public Services, and Research and Development ICT.

6.6. GovTech

Cruinniú GovTech 2019 was held in June 2019 to analyse the justification for, and potential construction of, an Irish GovTech Eco-system. The conference fulfilled a commitment in Future Jobs Ireland 2019. Participants included representatives from across industry, academia, and the public service. The Cruinniú GovTech 2019 Report records the discussion and outputs of this gathering, the aspirations for GovTech for the next number of years, the measures that would show progress and the eight summary actions required to turn the aspirations into realities. The priority actions identified in the Report were approved by Government in December 2019.

7 Public Procurement

7.1. Public Procurement Reform

The Office of Public Procurement (OGP) advises the Minister, Minister of State and Government on the procurement reform programme. During 2019, there was a broad based consultation on the progress made in implementing the reform programme and also on the OGP’s governance structures. Members of the Oireachtas were briefed in December. The key themes that emerged, which informed the OGP’s Draft Statement of Strategy 2020-2022, included: strengthening strategic procurement; improving service delivery and processes; embracing digitalisation; increasing SME access to public contracts; and the professionalisation of procurement. The OGP continued to promote measures aimed at supporting SME participation in public procurement and quarterly meetings of the SME Advisory Group were held. Consultations were held on establishing an office of a procurement ombudsman, which resulted in the commencement of a wider scope review of the legal and administrative provisions for remedies in public procurement processes. The threshold for advertising public contracts on eTenders, the State’s public procurement platform, continued to be kept under review. The key focus of the Interim Procurement Reform Board during the year was on developing appropriate reporting metrics to monitor procurement reform programme progress and enable a better understanding of procurement-related activity across the system. The Board also sought to enhance take-up of the purchasing frameworks offered by the OGP and sectoral Central Purchasing Bodies and examined the impacts of applying social considerations, including environmental sustainability, in public procurement. It continued to monitor operational performance, initiatives, challenges, risks and issues, particularly in relation to preparations for Brexit.

7.2. Strategic Public Procurement

The OGP continued to develop the National Public Procurement Policy Framework (NPPPF) during the year. The framework, which was updated in November, enables a more strategic, consistent and co-ordinated approach to public procurement across the public sector, by providing guidelines and setting out the procurement procedures to be followed by public bodies. Key initiatives undertaken in 2019 included the updating of Public Procurement Guidelines (January 2019) and the issue of information notes on Brexit (see below for more detail), Corporate Procurement Planning and on the Role of the Procurement Officer. The OGP also published Circular 20/19, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, to promote the use of environmental and social considerations in public procurement. The OGP continued its preparations for Brexit through extensive contingency planning and stakeholder engagement. It examined its framework agreements to assess the risks associated with a no-deal Brexit and engaged with key suppliers on their contingency arrangements. It provided updated Information Notes on Brexit and Public Procurement, which included a questions and answer section to deal with the common queries on Brexit from a procurement perspective. It also reminded Government departments in September of the need to identify and manage any potential procurement-related risks and to put in place detailed contingency plans where necessary. It continued to highlight the need for detailed localised contingency planning by public bodies and advised them to assess potential

impacts on their supply chains and to put in place mitigation measures. It also established a dedicated email address to respond to concerns contracting authorities may have in relation to procurement, brexit@ogp.gov.ie

7.3. Public Service Procurement Frameworks

The Office of Public Procurement (OGP) leads on the implementation of the procurement reform programme as part of wider public sector reform. Over the course of the year it established a wide range of framework agreements and contracts to assist public sector bodies in securing goods and services. It established a total of 23 additional framework agreements, 17 discrete contracts and more than 964 competitions from framework agreements and now has in excess of 120 active framework agreements in place. As the OGP’s existing framework agreements fall due to be replaced, it takes every opportunity possible to improve the client experience. For example, in the case of the 2nd generation frameworks for laptops and computer devices set up during the year, much of the demand is now met by direct drawdown arrangements instead of more resource consuming mini-competitions that had been a feature in the 1st generation frameworks. Throughout the year, the OGP supported high level procurement and contracting strategies for projects across Government, including a number that provide critical support in the delivery of services to the citizen. For example, key contracts were put in place to provide electricity for street lighting, ambulances for the broader public sector and an asbestos surveying service that can be accessed by the HSE, OPW and local authorities. The OGP won an award in 2019 at the Facilities Management Awards for a joint project with An Garda Síochána – Facilities Management Project of the Year Health & Education.

7.4. Construction Procurement

A review of the policies and practices deployed in the procurement of public works projects was launched in March. This involves extensive engagement, both with industry stakeholders, and with the public bodies charged with the delivery of public works projects on a broad range of issues. The initial focus is on the engagement of consultancy services, which is aimed at driving better project definition, in order to provide greater certainty for all those engaged in the construction stage. The review will deliver significant changes to the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) over the coming years. A Position Paper on Consultancy Engagement was published in May 2019 as part of the development of the next generation of the CWMF. The Construction Policy Unit of the OGP hosts meeting of the Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC). This met 8 times in 2019 to discuss public sector construction related issues and to provide expert advice and technical input into the development of public sector national construction procurement policy. The Unit also participated in the Construction Sector Group and various construction industry and public sector seminars/procurement events throughout the year. Approximately 80% of spend under the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027 will be invested in works projects/delivered through the Capital Works Management Framework, managed by the OGP. The OGP established a Commercial Skills Academy to provide a focussed training programme to improve the capabilities of those public servants in key spending departments and public sector bodies charged with the delivery of public capital investment projects. A pilot Commercial Skills training programme of five modules

addressing key commercial skills for managing capital works projects was successfully delivered in Q4 2019.

7.5. Engagement with Stakeholders

The OGP continued to engage proactively with a wide network of stakeholders, including the Oireachtas, industry representative and public sector bodies, and at international and EU level.

The OGP promoted strategic public procurement at multiple sector-based and industry-led events; it hosted the Central Purchasing Body (CPB) Network annual meeting for CPBs across the EU and EEA; it participate in Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation’s SME working group; it represented Ireland at international level and engaging with Member States on multiple issues; and held bilateral meetings with industry representative bodies on progressing the procurement reform programme.

The SME Advisory Group met 4 times during 2019, with procurement representatives from the Education, Health, Local and Central Government sectors attending the December meeting. Minutes of its meetings are on www.ogp.gov.ie.

The OGP continued to roll out the Group’s communications strategy to promote opportunities to participate in public procurement in the SME sector. Events included a Facilities Management briefing aimed at suppliers in this procurement category, Go2Tender training, Breakfast Briefings, and participation at high profile, national events. The OGP also expanded its suite of videos explaining the procurement process, as well as providing case studies of SMEs successful in securing public contracts.

Public Sector Clients: The OGPs Key Account Managers (KAMs) continued to engage with senior public sector clients to increase awareness of, and engagement with, central procurement solutions and to support the development of strategic procurement practices. The OGP’s Customer Service Helpdesk engaged directly with public sector clients and suppliers throughout 2019 and managed 11,000 queries from civil and public service bodies and suppliers. Of these, 92% of queries were resolved during the first call and 82% were resolved within 24 hours. 84% of requirements received were covered by existing OGP framework agreements. Quarterly newsletters issued to stakeholders throughout 2019. Schedules of current and forthcoming arrangements were published and updated online. A conference for public sector clients November was attended by approx. 300 representatives from across the public service.

During the year, the OGP responded to a client survey undertaken in 2018 by: providing better communications around timelines to complete competitions; simplifying processes and materials; and commissioning a new client website to provide easier access to information about framework agreements, scheduled to be launched in 2020.

The Construction Policy Unit continued to service its dedicated construction procurement email, which provides guidance and advice on works and works-related procurement and contractual matters, in addition to its CWMF website.

7.6. Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis

Report

In keeping with the OGP’s remit to increase transparency in public procurement and to improve data analytics in relation to public expenditure on goods and services, the Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis Report 2017 was launched in December. This is the fifth such report and it analysed more than €4.9 billion, or 82%, of the estimated annual public procurement addressable spend under the remit of the OGP and its sector partners and almost 4,400 public service tender notices published on eTenders.gov.ie with an estimated contract value of €6.1 billion. The report showed that 94% of the analysed spend is with firms within the State and the majority is with SMEs.

7.7. Increased use of Digital Technology

Digital Transformation was identified as a major strand of the OGP’s new Draft Statement of Strategy as the organisation seeks to accelerate the digital delivery of its services in an accessible, consistent and intuitive way. OGP are seeking to streamline and improve public processes and the support structures necessary to enable transparent and efficient procurement, including through the development of a new eProcurement strategy.

The Government Strategy to increase the use of Digital Technology in key public works projects that are funded through the public capital programme continued in 2019. A key project is the rollout of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation strategy. This will be phased into the procurement sector over a four-year period commencing with the large-scale projects initially as the larger technical consultancies have the capacity to deliver BIM. The recent publication of new Standards for BIM by the International Organisation Standards (ISO) will support a consistent approach to the delivery of BIM in Ireland and in a worldwide market.

A Digital Works seminar was hosted by the Construction Policy Unit in October and set out developments by public bodies that are already in train. It focused on the benefits of investing in digital solutions and was attended by senior decision makers, IT managers and budget holders from across the public services.

The OGP has established an eTenders Platform project to specify the requirements and establish a new contract for the eTenders Platform, on expiry of the current contract, in 2020. A cross-sectoral Steering Committee has been established and substantial stakeholder engagement and consultation is under way. Transitioning to the new platform will be a significant body of work, affecting all public bodies, and the provision of appropriate training will be critical to success.

The OGP’s eInvoicing Programme has already enabled Central Government bodies to receive and process electronic invoices and the programme is currently being rolled out to Sub-Central Government bodies, with a view to completion before mid- 2020. The OGP continued its communications and stakeholder engagement campaign during 2019 and shared updates and guidance with public bodies through various forums and channels and in November ran a workshop with its sector partners. Discussions have been initiated on establishing eInvoicing within a broader digital and/ or reform agenda, with the support and leadership of senior management in the civil service.

The integrated electronic European Single Procurement Document (eESPD) solution on eTenders was launched on 28 January 2019. The eESPD is the first standardised digital

eProcurement document available to all EU based tenderers. The project received €428k of European Commission funding towards the total eESPD development costs of €602k. Over the course of 2019 a total of 1,544 tenders were issued with eESPD requests and 5,534 eESPD responses were received from suppliers in respect of those tenders.

The Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) workflow management and CRM system supporting 150 users in the OGP’s Customer Service and Sourcing Operations functions went live on 31 January 2019. By the end of 2019, 10,365 client and supplier cases, 1, 743 client requirements and over 1,256 sourcing projects had been created on the system.

7.8. Supporting OGP Staff

The OGP continues to support its employees to develop and achieve their potential within the organisation. In 2019, almost 40% of OGP’s Learning and Development (L&D) budget was allocated to staff pursuing third level professional qualifications with 47 employees participating in its Further Education Scheme, 35 of whom (74%) pursued public procurement related qualifications. The OGP allocated 7.5% of its L&D budget to supporting specialist roles within different business units in 2019, including attendance at conferences, membership of professional bodies and subscriptions to relevant publications. Ninety-two percent of the OGP’s workforce participated in 25 workshops that helped inform the seven core themes of the new OGP People Strategy – EMPOWER. EMPOWER is underpinned by a detailed implementation plan that sets out 111 objectives under 7 core themes with timescales and measures of success for each objective (Engagement, Making a Difference, Positive Mindset, Opportunity, Wellbeing, Expertise and Recognition). The strategy was launched in March. In 2019, there were significant achievements under each of the elements of EMPOWER, in particular, developing a coaching culture, continued strong commitment towards inclusion & diversity initiatives, finalising the development of an agile leadership model and launching of new CSR initiatives. The OGP are the first Civil Service organisation to have teamed up with the Great Place to Work (GPTW) initiative to benchmark its employee support journey over the next three years. OGP’s first year GPTW score was 55%, placing the OGP above the wider public sector benchmark and the results have informed the development of the Draft OGP Statement of Strategy.

8 Supporting Our Staff to Achieve Their Mission

8.1. People@PER Strategy

The HR Strategy Unit is a key enabler that allows the Department to fulfil its core expenditure and reform objectives by ensuring that staff can make the most effective contribution possible and possess the skills and knowledge required to meet their goals. It is responsible for the provision of a wide range of HR services and the delivery of the Department’s People@PER Strategy 2017-2020. The Strategy is based on a number of principles and provides a framework to guide the roll-out of people-centred initiatives, supporting the achievement of departmental objectives and impacting positively on our organisational culture. The themes in the strategy are aligned with the DPER Statement of Strategy 2016-2019, the Civil Service Renewal Agenda, the Civil Service People Strategy 2017-2020 and Our Public Service 2020. One of the key strategic priorities identified in the People@PER strategy is to ‘value diversity and support an inclusive workforce’. The Department is committed to championing an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects modern Ireland and the people it serves. It strives to create a culture where all staff have equal access to opportunity and feel comfortable and confident to be themselves at work. To support this mission, a number of activities have been rolled out by the Department since 2018 to embed recognition of diversity throughout the organisation. It conducted an organisation-wide Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Diagnostic exercise to understand the Departmental employees’ experience of diversity and inclusion and identify the current state of D&I in the Department. The cross-departmental PERspectives group, established to support the delivery of the People@PER Strategy, continued to bring the diversity agenda forward and to seek to embed an inclusive culture across the department. The Department’s work in this area reflects the Public Service Duty requirement set out in section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.

8.2. HR Business Partnering

The Business Partnering (BP) function acts as a consultancy/advisory service for senior management and staff to support them in driving change. During the year it continued to build and implement HR plans and solutions in order to achieve strategic goals and deliver results. A strategic approach to the allocation of staffing resources continued to be deployed across the Department, to ensure resources were aligned to business priorities. The Workforce Planning Group continued to meet on a regular basis to review and consider the impact of new HR policy developments / initiatives. In addition to supporting divisions through facilitating annual Business Planning Workshops, the Business Partners also supported the recruitment and placement of over 65 staff in the Department and worked closely with IGEES management on bespoke recruitment campaigns over the course of the year.

The Unit also managed a high volume of transactional HR cases and complex employee relations queries. In addition to this, a key role of the Business Partnering team is to effectively coach and support Line Management in the implementation and application of HR policy and procedures. There continued to be a focus on sustaining stable industrial relations through the formal mechanism of Departmental Council and through ongoing engagement with staff side representatives.

8.3. HR Operations

The recruitment and selection function continued to play an important role in supporting the Department to deliver on its reform agenda. Retention continued to present a challenge and during the year the Unit recruited 67 staff and managed 53 staff exits - almost 29% of whom were staff leaving on promotion. In November 2019 a new online eRecruitment system was launched and this innovation will streamline the Department’s recruitment processes. There were 5 separate sessions of the Departmental Induction Programme given in 2019. This continued to play an important role in supporting new staff joining the Department, particularly those that are new recruits to the Civil Service. There was also an induction session for new staff joining IGEES at AO and AP levels. While the Department continued to receive a high level of positive feedback on the Induction Programme there was a review of the Induction Programme in 2019 and the new programme will be launched in 2020.

8.4. Organisational Development

Building upon the achievements of the ONE HR Learning and Development Strategy 2015-2017, the pathway for organisational learning and development continued to be developed and enhanced under the People@PER Strategy 2017-2020. Four hundred and eighty seven members of staff participated in one or more formal learning and development initiatives in 2019 with a total of 2,508 formal training days being recorded, averaging at 5 formal training days per employee. The maturity of learning and development in the Department was recognised and acknowledged when it was shortlisted for the CIPD Ireland HR Awards 2019.

Learning and development interventions were complemented by a comprehensive Post-Entry Education Scheme supporting 19 staff pursuing academic programmes in a variety of disciplines. These included finance, business and economics, HR, policy analysis, legal studies, information systems and public management. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a key component in the up-skilling of staff and their professionalisation. CPD was facilitated in each division of the Department to cover attendance at seminars, conferences, short public training programmes and subscriptions to professional bodies.

8.5. Corporate Management

The Department’s Corporate Office continued to provide corporate support to the Secretary General, Management Board and the Department more generally including administration and processing of Parliamentary Questions, Data Protection Requests, Statutory Instruments, eCabinet Memoranda and Freedom of Information Requests. It also coordinated the Department’s approach to governance, risk management and to implementing its compliance framework. Key outputs and tasks during the year included:

Preparation of the Department’s Business Plan for 2019 and 2020 and the Annual Report 2018;

Co-ordination of the management of strategic high level and business unit level risks in the Department and of the input to the National Risk Assessment conducted by the Department of the Taoiseach;

Continued implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);

Commencement of a revision of the Department’s Records Management Policy;

Commencement of the development of a Business Continuity Plan;

Strengthened oversight of, and engagement with, the Bodies under the Aegis of the Department;

Agreeing a revised ICT Governance Framework; and

Progressing the roll-out of a more systematic approach to Knowledge Management in the Department.

The Finance Unit continued to enhance financial management in the Department which includes: preparing the Appropriation Accounts; creating the Department’s annual Estimates; providing business support and advice to the Department’s divisions; reviewing the accounts of Returning Officers after each electoral event; enhancing financial governance, compliance and procedures; and leading and preparing the Department in the transition to Financial Management Shared Service. The Minister’s Office continued to provide executive support to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform in his role as political head of these Departments, assisting him to fulfil his role as Minister and ensuring that the work of the Departments that requires Ministerial attention is processed efficiently, allowing both Departments to achieve their high level goals. The Secretary General’s Office plays a key role in terms of providing support to the Secretary General in the context of his responsibilities under the Public Service Management Act, 1997. This broad role is essential to the effective functioning of the Department and involves working closely with the Secretary General and with all Divisions of the Department. The Press Office continued to represent the vision, mission statement, values and work of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in order to communicate in a strategic and effective manner with relevant stakeholders.

8.6. Internal and EU Audit

The Internal and EU Audit Unit provides an internal audit service to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance and is the designated European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Audit Authority for Ireland as required by European Union regulations. The Audit Unit completed ten internal audit engagements for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of its 2019 Programme of audits. These have resulted in recommendations to improve various business-critical aspects of the Department’s processes. As part of its shared service internal audit agreement with the Department of Finance, the Audit Unit completed eight internal audit reports in respect of its 2019 programme of audits and reported results to the Department’s Audit Committee. As part of the 2019 audit plan, the Unit, in partnership with the HR Strategy Unit, commenced a review of culture in the Department. The work was contracted to external consultants and the results will be reported in mid-2020.

8.7. Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

In 2019, CMO medical advice was provided to a workforce of approximately 42,000 civil servants, prison officers, state industrial employees and defence industrial employees. The CMO also provided medical advice to a variety of other public sector organisations. It dealt with almost 14,000 case management episodes in 2019, as well as immunisations, audiograms and health screening, across approximately 55 Departments and Offices. New areas of work include audiogram hearing and silica dust exposure checks for OPW industrial workers and immunisations for immigration officers. The CMO was awarded Safe, Effective, Quality Occupational Health Service (SEQOHS) accreditation in June 2019. It is an international accreditation scheme for occupational health services managed by the Royal College of Physicians of London on behalf of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. CMO preparation for this accreditation took approximately 18 months and involved a detailed onsite inspection by occupational health specialists. Accreditation ensures that the CMO is a modern and efficient service which operates in line with best international occupational health practice.

An Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2019

Clár Ábhar Achoimre Feidhmiúcháin i

1 Bainistiú Níos Fearr a dhéanamh ar Chaiteachas Poiblí 1

1.1. An Próiseas Meastachán a Bhainistiú 1

1.2. Caiteachas Vótáilte a Bhainistiú 2

1.3. Caiteachas Caipitiúil a Bhainistiú 3

1.4. Seirbhís Mheastóireachta agus Eacnamaíochta Rialtas na hÉireann 4

1.5. Cuntasaíocht Rialtais 5

2 Brexit agus Comhoibriú Idirnáisiúnta 6

2.1. Brexit 6

2.2. Ceisteanna AE 6

2.3. Comhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas 6

2.4. Cláir Chistí Struchtúracha an AE 6

2.5. Beartas Cistí Struchtúracha agus Infheistíochta na Eorpa (CSIE) 8

3 Pá, Pinsin agus Caidreamh Tionsclaíoch na Seirbhíse Poiblí 9

3.1. Comhaontú Cobhsaíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2018-2020 9

3.2. An Coimisiún um Pá na Seirbhíse Poiblí (an CPSP) 9

3.3. Caidreamh Tionsclaíoch 10

3.4. Scéim Pinsin Aonair na Seirbhíse Poiblí 10

3.5. Ceisteanna eile Pá agus Pinsean 11

4 Athnuachan na Státseirbhíse 12

4.1. Plean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse 12

4.2. An Straitéis Daoine don Státseirbhís 2017-2020 14

4.3. Saoire Bhreoiteachta na Seirbhíse Poiblí 17

5 Athchóiriú na Seirbhíse Poiblí 18

5.1. Ár Seirbhíse Phoiblí 2020 18

5.2. Oscailteacht, Trédhearcacht agus Cuntasacht 20

5.3. Bearta Reachtaíochta agus Rialachais Phoiblí 21

6 Rialtas Digiteach 24

6.1. Oifig Phríomh-Oifigeach Faisnéise an Rialtais (OPOFR) 24

6.2. Príomhéachtaí Straitéis TFC na Seirbhíse Poiblí in 2019 24

6.2.1. Tógáil le Roinnt 25

6.2.2. Tús Áite do Chúrsaí Digiteacha 26

6.2.3. Sonraí mar Chumasóir 26

6.2.4. Feabhas a chur ar Rialachas 26

6.2.5. Acmhainn Mhéadaithe 27

6.3. Straitéis Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais 2017-2020 27

6.4. Straitéis Sonraí na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2019-2023 27

6.5. Idirchaidreamh a dhéanamh ar Leibhéal AE agus Idirnáisiúnta 28

6.6. GovTech 28

7 Soláthar Poiblí 30

7.1. Athchóiriú an tSoláthair Phoiblí 30

7.2. Soláthar Poiblí Straitéiseach 30

7.3. Creataí Soláthair na Seirbhíse Poiblí 31

7.4. Soláthar Tógála 31

7.5. Rannpháirteachas le Páirtithe Leasmhara 32

7.6. Tuarascáil Anailíse ar Chaiteachas agus ar Tairiscintí na Seirbhíse

Poiblí 33

7.7. Úsáid níos fearr a bhaint as Teicneolaíocht Dhigiteach 33

7.8. Tacú le Foireann an OSR 34

8 Tacú lenár bhFoireann chun a Misean a Bhaint Amach 36

8.1. Straitéis People@PER 36

8.2. Comhpháirtíocht Gnó Acmhainní Daonna 36

8.3. Oibríochtaí Acmhainní Daonna 37

8.4. Forbairt Eagraíochta 37

8.5. Bainistíocht Chorparáideach 37

8.6. Iniúchóireacht Inmheánach agus AE 38

8.7. Oifig an Phríomhoifigigh Leighis (an POL) 39

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Achoimre Feidhmiúcháin Eolas faoin Tuarascáil Bhliantúil seo Is é Misean na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe chun freastal ar leas an phobail trí thacú le caiteachas poiblí dea-bhainistithe dea-dhírithe agus inbhuanaithe trí sheirbhísí nuachóirithe, éifeachtacha agus cuntasacha poiblí. Chun tacú leis an misean seo, tugann an Roinn faoi dhá sprioc straitéiseacha a bhaint amach:

Caiteachas poiblí a bhainistiú ar leibhéil inbhuanaithe ar bhealach pleanáilte, réasúnach agus cothrom chun tacú le forbairt gheilleagrach agus dul chun cinn sóisialta na hÉireann; agus

Struchtúir bhainistíochta agus rialachais phoiblí a bheith ann atá éifeachtach agus freagrúil don saoránach, trédhearcach agus cuntasach, agus a fheabhsaíonn éifeachtacht an chaiteachais phoiblí, leis sin.

D’oibrigh foireann na Roinne as lámh a chéile i gcaitheamh 2019 ar réimse iomlán beartas, tionscadal agus tionscnaimh chun tabhairt faoi na spriocanna seo a bhaint amach. Mar gheall ar éigeandáil sláinte poiblí Covid-19, tháinig athrú ollmhór ar an gcomhthéacs straitéiseach d’obair na Roinne idir deireadh 2019 agus an tráth a foilsíodh an Tuarascáil Bhliantúil seo i lár-2020. Tá athruithe móra tar éis eascairt as seo ar obair na Roinne agus tá an tírdhreach ina ndéantar caiteachas poiblí a bhainistiú agus ina ndéantar Athchóiriú na Seirbhíse Poiblí a stiúradh an-éagsúil anois. Is tábhachtach go fóill, áfach, chun súil a chaitheamh siar ar an mbliain 2019 chun na príomhfhorbairtí agus na príomhéachtaí a chur san áireamh ina leith seo i rith na tréimhse sin agus is air seo a dhíríonn an Tuarascáil Bhliantúil seo. Caiteachas Poiblí a Bhainistiú Lean Éire in 2019 ag oibriú faoi ghné choisctheach an Chomhaontaithe Cobhsaíochta agus Fáis. aChuir an Roinn, mar aon leis an Roinn Airgeadais, an cúigiú hIdirphlé Eacnamaíochta Náisiúnta bliantúil ar siúl i Meitheamh, a thug an deis do pháirtithe leasmhara chun teacht le chéile chun dearcthaí a mhalartú, roimh an mBuiséad, ar na tosaíochtaí sóisialta agus geilleagracha a raibh ar an Roinn déileáil leo i gcomhthéacs paraiméadair mhaicreacnamaíocha agus fhioscacha. Foilsíodh Ráiteas Eacnamaíochta an tSamhraidh an mhí chéanna, agus rinneadh seo i gcomhar leis an Roinn Airgeadais chomh maith. Foilsíodh an Tuarascáil Chaiteachais Lárbhliana an mhí ina dhiaidh sin. Cuirtear an pointe tosaigh ar fáil sna tuarascálacha seo le haghaidh breithniúcháin bhuiséid a dhéanann an tOireachtas agus leagtar amach iontu uasteorainneacha caiteachais bonnlíne sa mheántéarma. Lean an Roinn lena próiseas um Athbhreithniú ar Chaiteachas a chumhdaíonn iomláine chaiteachas an Rialtais i gcaitheamh tréimhse trí bliana go dtí 2019. Foilsíodh thart ar 81 páipéar go dtí seo, a chuir le bonn fianaise daingean chun eolas a chur ar fáil do cheapadh beartais sa ghearrthéarma agus sa mheántéarma. Cuirfear tús in 2020 le babhta nua trí bliana d’Athbhreithnithe Caiteachais, leanfar leis an bpróiseas ina ndéanfar measúnú criticiúil ar chláir ar bhonn rollach, fianaise a shuíomh i gceartlár an cheaptha beartais agus eolas a chur ar fáil don phlé faoi Mheastacháin le Ranna. D’fhoilsigh an Roinn Tuarascáil Chaiteachais 2020 ar Lá an Bhuiséid (an 8 Deireadh Fómhair). Rinne an Roinn maoirseacht ar ollchaiteachas reatha beagán de bhreis ar €60 billiún i Ranna in 2019, arb ionann sin agus méadú bliain ar bhliain beagnach €3 billiún nó 5.2% aníos ó thoradh 2018, a léiríonn tiomantas an Rialtais do sheirbhísí poiblí éifeachtúla agus éifeachtacha a sholáthar. Rinne an Roinn bainistiú fairsing ar chaiteachas Vótáilte ar

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aon dul leis an tsuim a leagtar amach i dTuarascáil Chaiteachais 2019, anuas ar na tionscnaimh Feidhmíochta Buiséadta agus Buiséadta Comhionannais a thabhairt chun cinn. Rinne an Roinn maoirseacht ar ollchaiteachas €7.2 billiún i Ranna in 2019, arb ionann sin agus méadú bliain ar bhliain beagnach €1.2 billiún nó 20% ar infheistíocht chaipitil, aníos ó thoradh €6.0 billiún 2018, a léiríonn tiomantas an Rialtais do chaiteachas caipitiúil a mhéadú ar aon dul leis an bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta. Tionscadal Éireann 2040 - thacaigh roinnt príomh-aschuir le cur i bhfeidhm TÉ2040 in 2019, foilsiú Tógáil 2019 – Feidhmíocht agus Ionchais san Earnáil Tógála (‘Build 2019 – Construction Sector Performance and Prospects’), Ionchais - Mórthionscadail Bhonneagair ar na Bacáin in Éirinn (‘Prospects - Ireland’s Pipeline of Major Infrastructure Projects’), an chéad Tuarascáil Bhliantúil ina leagtar amach dul chun cinn go dtí seo i soláthar, Cód Caiteachais Phoiblí nuashonraithe chun an treoir maidir le hinfheistíocht phoiblí a threisiú, agus uirlis léarscáilithe Myprojectireland, anuas ar Rianaire Infheistíochta nuashonraithe agus fairsingithe. Brexit agus Comhoibriú Idirnáisiúnta Lean an Roinn ag ullmhú do Brexit i ngach cás agus chun dul i ngleic leis na saincheisteanna a tháinig chun solais don réimse limistéir bheartais a raibh sí freagrach astu, anuas ar an tionchar a d’imir Brexit ar an ngeilleagar níos fairsinge. Anuas air sin, dhírigh sé ar fhorbairtí níos fairsinge ar leibhéal an AE agus go hidirnáisiúnta, agus ullmhú á dhéanamh do phlé a bheidh ag teacht aníos ar thodhchaí na hEorpa. Leanfaidh an Roinn le tús áite a thabhairt d’fhorbairtí Brexit agus AE. Beartas Comhtháthaithe agus Cistí Struchtúracha Lean an Roinn ar aghaidh le maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar Chlár Cistí Struchtúracha an Aontais Eorpaigh 2014-2020. (Is ionann fáltais CFRE go dtí seo agus €157.5 milliún, ar an iomlán). Tá idirbheartaíocht ar leibhéal Meitheal Oibre agus Aire do thréimhse an chláir ó 2021 go 2027 ar bun ó d’fhoilsigh an Coimisiún Eorpach tograí reachtaíochta an Bheartais Chomhtháthaithe iar-2020 i mBealtaine 2018. I dturas an ama, comhaontaíodh ar sheasamh na Comhairle maidir leis an bpacáiste foriomlán agus tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ag idirbheartaíocht le Parlaimint na hEorpa ag féachaint leo seo a chur i gcrích sula dtosóidh an chéad tréimhse chláir eile. Chuir an Roinn tús le rannpháirtíocht fhoirmiúil maidir le Comhaontú Comhpháirtíochta 2021-2027 agus Cláir Oibríochtúla CFRE a fhorbairt i rith 2019. Chuir an Roinn tús freisin le pleanáil do chlár nua PEACE PLUS Thuaidh Theas a thiocfaidh in ionad chláir reatha trasteorann PEACE agus INTERREG don tréimhse 2021-2027. Pá, Pinsin agus Caidreamh Tionsclaíoch na Seirbhíse Poiblí Bhí príomhról ag an Roinn maidir le roinnt dúshláin shuntasacha chaidrimh thionsclaíoch a bhainistiú sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí i rith 2019, agus í ag cinntiú go leanfar leis an mbille pá agus pinsin seirbhíse poiblí a bhainistiú ar bhealach inbhuanaithe laistigh de chreat Chomhaontú Cobhsaíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2018-2020. D’fhoilsigh an Coimisiún um Pá na Seirbhíse Poiblí (an CPSP) a thríú tuarascáil i mBealtaine 2019, a bhain le hearcaíocht agus coinneáil in Óglaigh na hÉireann. Foilsíodh ceathrú tuarascáil, agus tuarascáil deiridh an Choimisiúin i nDeireadh Fómhair 2019. Pléadh sa tuarascáil sainghráid sa tseirbhís phoiblí, poist shinsearacha agus gairmithe sláinte áirithe seirbhíse poiblí.

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Lean an Roinn lena hiarrachtaí dírithe chun dul i ngleic le cur i bhfeidhm ag Údaráis Ábhartha Scéim Pinsin Aonair na Seirbhíse Poiblí agus chun réiteach fadtéarmach riaracháin a fhorbairt. Athnuachan na Státseirbhíse Lean an Roinn le cur i bhfeidhm Chlár Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse a chomhordú, a ndéanann Bord Bainistíochta na Státseirbhíse maoirseacht air. Leagtar sonraí amach faoin dul chun cinn a rinneadh maidir le tionscadail athnuachana a sholáthar a bhfuil freagracht dhíreach ar an Roinn astu, i bpríomhchorp na Tuarascála seo. Foilsíodh an ceathrú tuarascáil ar dhul chun cinn ar Phlean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse i mBealtaine 2019 ina leagtar amach an t-ardleibhéal dul chun cinn a baineadh amach i ngach ceann de na gníomhartha sa phlean ó cuireadh tús le cur i bhfeidhm. Straitéis Daoine na Státseirbhíse Ar aon dul le Plean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse, lean an Roinn, i gcomhoibriú leis an bPobal Acmhainní Daonna Státseirbhíse níos fairsinge, chun an Straitéis Daoine don Státseirbhís, 2017-2020 a chur i bhfeidhm i rith 2019. Tá de chuspóir ag an Straitéis chun tacú le seirbhísí poiblí níos éifeachtaí agus ar chaighdeán níos airde a sholáthar don Stát agus dá shaoránaigh trí Acmhainní Daonna a shuíomh mar thiomántóir straitéiseach a chumasaíonn trí thosaíocht a sholáthar. Bí i do Rogha Fostóra; Lucht Saothair na Todhchaí a Thógáil; agus Bainisteoirí a Fhorbairt, Tacú leo agus Luach a léiriú orthu mar Fhorbróirí Daoine.

Athchóiriú na Seirbhíse Poiblí Dírítear in Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020, atá ar bun ó 2018, ar thacú le dul chun cinn inbhuanaithe leanúnach chun Seirbhís Phoiblí níos láidre a fhorbairt agus chun seirbhísí ar chaighdeán níos

fearr agus torthaí níos fearr a sholáthar don phobal. Tacaíonn sé le nuálaíocht, agus oibriú níos fearr ar fud an Rialtais go léir, agus leagtar béim láidir ar thorthaí an athchóirithe a thomhas. I rith na bliana, lean an Roinn le próiseas ÁSP 2020 a threorú, anuas ar mhonatóireacht a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm gníomhartha agus táscairí cuí a shainaithint chun cur i bhfeidhm níos rathúla a thomhas. Lean an Roinn freisin lena clár athchóirithe atá dírithe ar rialtas oscailte, cuntasach agus eiticiúil a sholáthar: Síníodh an tAcht um Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí, 2019 isteach sa dlí i Márta 2019 agus críochnaíodh an dara hathbhreithniú reachtúil ar an Acht um Brústocaireacht a Rialáil, 2015 i Nollaig 2019 agus foilsíodh go luath in 2020 é. Leanadh ar aghaidh leis an tionscnamh Sonraí Oscailte a chur i bhfeidhm, agus leanadh le tacaíocht agus comhairle leanúnach a sholáthar maidir leis an reachtaíocht um Shaoráil Faisnéise a chur i bhfeidhm i measc saoránach, chomh maith lena mhéid le 600 comhlacht seirbhíse poiblí. Tugadh faoi rannpháirtíocht sa phróiseas chun plean a leanann Plean Gníomhaíochta Náisiúnta na Comhpháirtíochta um Rialtas Oscailte 2016-2018 a chur i bhfeidhm agus a chruthú. Rialtas Digiteach Lean Oifig Phríomh-Oifigeach Faisnéise an Rialtais (OPOFR), ag oibriú le ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí rialtais ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí, leis an gclár claochlaithe dhigitigh a chur chun cinn ar fud na Státseirbhíse agus na Seirbhíse Poiblí. Lean OPOFR le idirchaidreamh a dhéanamh freisin leis an AE agus an Eagraíocht um Chomhar agus Fhorbairt Eacnamaíochta (an ECFE) maidir le réimse tionscnamh.

I measc na n-éachtaí in 2019, rinneadh an méid seo a leanas: Plean Gníomhaíochta 18 gCéim chun Straitéis TFC na Seirbhíse Poiblí a chur i bhfeidhm agus, go háirithe, chun an

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tsraith seirbhísí Tógáil le Roinnt (BTS) a fhairsingiú, eagraíochtaí nua a thabhairt isteach go dtí an tseirbhís Deisce Bainistithe agus leanúint leis an tsraith Feidhmchlár agus seirbhísí Líonraí Rialtais a thabhairt isteach agus a fhorbairt ar fud na tíre; tairseach gov.ie a chur chun cinn, ina bhfuil gach láithreán gréasáin Roinn Rialtais á aistriú, agus réiteach an Néil Rialtais phríobháidigh; agus an tIonad Sonraí Seirbhíse Poiblí a chur chun cinn. Ina theannta sin, thug an OPOFR cur i bhfeidhm Straitéis Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais 2017-2020 agus Straitéis Sonraí na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2019-2023 chun cinn agus thacaigh sé leis an Oireachtas maidir leis an mbreithniú a rinne sé ar an Acht um Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí agus le rith an Achta. Rinne sé Straitéis Gairmiúlaithe Acmhainní Daonna TFC a chur chun cinn, go háirithe tabhairt faoin gclár píolótach Printíseach Speisialtóir TFC, agus d’oibrigh sé chun an glacadh a mhéadú le MyGovId i measc gníomhaireachtaí rialtais a mhéadú agus d’oibrigh sé leis an gclár Máistreachta sa Mhargaíocht Dhigiteach i gColáiste na Tríonóide chun measúnú a dhéanamh ar eispéireas custaiméirí ar sheirbhísí rialtais dhigitigh. Rinne sé idirchaidreamh leanúnach le hinstitiúidí iltaobhacha, an ECFE agus an AE maidir leis an Rialachán um Pointe Rochtana Aonair Digiteach agus ghlac sé páirt i ngrúpaí beartais agus teicniúla le haghaidh eIDAS agus Chomhpháirtíocht Bhlocshlabhra na hEorpa. Soláthar Poiblí Glacann an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais (an OSR) ceannas ar chur i bhfeidhm an Chláir Athchóirithe Soláthair Phoiblí, agus cruthaíonn sé leibhéil mhéadaithe de chomhoibriú agus de chomhsheasmhacht i soláthar seirbhíse poiblí. Chríochnaigh foirne Foinsithe an OSR 1,004 comórtas in 2019 inar caitheadh €4,516 milliún, ar an iomlán, (socrú ina measc do leictreachas ina raibh caitheamh measta €3 billiún i gcaitheamh shaolré an chreata). Bhunaigh sé 23 creat-chomhaontú breise, 17 gconradh dhioscráideacha agus breis agus 964 iomaíocht ó chreat-chomhaontuithe chun cabhrú le comhlachtaí earnála poiblí chun earraí agus seirbhísí a fháil. Tá breis agus 120 creat-chomhaontú gníomhach ag an OSR anois. Cuireann socruithe an OSR tacaíocht ríthábhachtach do sheirbhísí ar fáil don saoránach agus i measc na gconarthaí nua i mbliana, bhí otharcharranna, leictreachas do shoilsiú sráide agus creat náisiúnta chun suirbhéireacht a dhéanamh ar aispeist a mbeidh teacht ag FSS, OOP agus údaráis áitiúla air. Thosaigh an OSR le comhairliúcháin maidir leis na fiúntais a bhaineann le hombudsman soláthair a bhunú agus ar chur i bhfeidhm agus cuíchóiriú an chláir athchóirithe. D’fhoilsigh sé treoir nuashonraithe agus nótaí eolais nuashonraithe chun gairmiúlú soláthair phoiblí a éascú. Seoladh athbhreithniú ar na beartais agus na cleachtais chun tionscadail oibreacha poiblí a sholáthar i Márta agus foilsíodh Páipéar Seasaimh ar Rannpháirtíocht Sainchomhairleoireachta i mBealtaine mar chuid den chéad ghlúin eile den Chreat Bainistíochta Oibreacha Caipitiúla (CBOC) a fhorbairt. Chas Coiste Conarthaí Tógála an Rialtais (CCTR) le chéile 8 n-uaire in 2019. Bhuaigh an OSR Dámhachtain Bainistíochta Saoráidí in 2019 i ngeall ar an obair a rinne sé leis an nGarda Síochána. Cuireadh an OSR ar an ngearrliosta freisin do Dhámhachtainí Acmhainní Daonna na hInstitiúide Cairte um Fhorbairt Pearsanra (an ICFP) don tionscnamh rannpháirtíochta fostaithe is fearr agus don fhoireann acmhainní daonna is fearr, a bhronnfar in 2020.

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Tacú lenár bhFoireann chun a Misean a Bhaint Amach Lean Aonad Straitéis Acmhainní Daonna na Roinne le Straitéis People@PER na Roinne a sholáthar, chomh maith le réimse fairsing seirbhísí acmhainní daonna a sholáthar d’fhoireann na Roinne. Rinne sé bainistíocht ar leibhéal suntasach d’athrúchán foirne agus lean sé ar aghaidh le raon fairsing de dheiseanna oiliúna agus forbartha a chur ar fáil don fhoireann. I gcaitheamh 2019, chuir an Oifig Chorparáideach tacaíocht chorparáideach ar fáil don Ard-Rúnaí agus don Roinn go ginearálta, agus rinne sí comhordú ar fhorbairt Phlean Gnó do 2019 agus 2020 na Roinne agus ar Thuarascáil Bhliantúil 2018 na Roinne chomh maith le cur chuige na Roinne i leith rialachais, bainistíocht eolais, bainistíocht riosca agus comhlíonta. Thacaigh sé leis an gCoiste Rialachais agus leis an mBord Bord Bainistíochta san obair leanúnach a rinne siad chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar agus feabhas a chur ar nósanna imeachta rialachais sa Roinn. Lean an tAonad Airgeadais le feabhas a chur ar bhainistíocht airgeadais sa Roinn. Chuir an tAonad Iniúchóireachta Inmheánaí agus Aonad Iniúchóireachta an Aontais Eorpaigh le seirbhís a sholáthar don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe agus don Roinn Airgeadais agus chun a Plean Straitéiseach Iniúchóireachta Inmheánaí 2016-2019 a chur i bhfeidhm. Chuir Oifig an Aire tacaíocht feidhmiúcháin ar fáil don Aire Airgeadais agus Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. Lean an Phreasoifig le fís, ráiteas misin, agus luachanna agus obair an Aire a léiriú chun cumarsáid a dhéanamh ar bhealach straitéiseach agus éifeachtach le páirtithe leasmhara ábhartha. Ghlac Oifig an Ard-Rúnaí le príomhról i dtaobh tacaíocht a sholáthar don Ard-Rúnaí i gcomhthéacs a chuid freagrachtaí faoin Acht um Bainistíocht na Seirbhíse Poiblí, 1997. Oifig an Phríomhoifigigh Leighis (An POL) Lean an Príomh-Oifigeach Leighis ar aghaidh le seirbhís sláinte cheirde a bhí éifeachtúil agus éifeachtach ó thaobh costais a sholáthar, chomh maith le comhairle a sholáthar ar cheisteanna sláinte cheirde do lucht saothair ina raibh thart ar 42,000 duine de chuid na Státseirbhíse agus na Seirbhíse Poiblí le linn 2019. I measc na limistéar nua oibre, bhí seiceálacha ar éisteacht closghraim agus ar nochtadh do dheannach i measc oibrithe tionsclaíocha OOP agus imdhíonadh d’oifigigh inimirce. Bronnadh creidiúnú Seirbhís Sláinte Cheirde Shábháilte, Éifeachtach, Ardchaighdeáin (SEQOHS) ar an POL i Meitheamh 2019, a chinntíonn gur seirbhís nua-aimseartha agus éifeachtúil í a oibrítear ar aon dul le dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta sláinte cheirde.

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1 Bainistiú Níos Fearr a dhéanamh ar Chaiteachas Poiblí

1.1. An Próiseas Meastachán a Bhainistiú D’fhoilsigh an Roinn Tuarascáil Chaiteachais 2020 i nDeireadh Fómhair. Leagadh amach ann seo na bearta mionsonraithe buiséid don bhliain 2020, anuas ar uasteorainneacha meántéarmacha caiteachas Aire a fhad le 2022. Foilsíodh an tImleabhar Meastachán Athbhreithnithe 2020 (an IMA) i mí na Nollag ina dhiaidh sin, ina leagtar amach leithdháiltí mionsonraithe caiteachais don bhliain 2020 ar leibhéal cláir. Áirítear leis seo eolas faoi fheidhmíocht do gach Vóta, ina leagtar amach na príomhsheirbhísí agus na príomhghníomhaíochtaí a chistíonn acmhainní poiblí agus bearta ardleibhéil an chomhthéacs agus táscairí tionchair a bhaineann leis na seirbhísí agus na gníomhaíochtaí seo. Cuimsítear in IMA 2020 freisin eolas faoi fheidhmíocht a bhaineann leis an Tionscnamh Buiséadta Comhionannais agus sonraí faoi chaiteachas a bhaineann leis an aeráid i measc Ranna Rialtais. Rinneadh na príomhthionscnaimh seo a leanas a thabhairt chun cinn:

Athchóiriú Buiséadach: Chomhfhoilsigh an Roinn, i dteannta na Roinne Airgeadais, Ráiteas Eacnamaíochta an tSamhraidh 2019 i Meitheamh. Leagtar amach ann na mórpharaiméadair le haghaidh fás maicreacnamaíoch agus fioscach agus srianta le linn an mheántéarma agus d’éascaigh sé plé maidir le roghanna agus tosaíochtaí fioscacha roimh Bhuiséad agus Meastacháin Dheireadh Fómhair. Sa mhí chéanna, rinne an Roinn, i gcomhar leis an Roinn Airgeadais, an tIdirphlé Eacnamaíochta Náisiúnta a eagrú i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath. Tá an tIdirphlé ar siúl le cúig bliana anuas agus tugann sé an deis do pháirtithe leasmhara éagsúla teacht le chéile chun dearcthaí a mhalartú go hoscailte agus go hionchuimsitheach ar na tosaíochtaí sóisialta agus geilleagracha a bhfuil an Rialtas le déileáil leo i gcomhthéacs paraiméadair mhaicreacnamaíocha agus fhioscacha. Ba é téama an imeachta don bhliain 2019 ‘Cur leis an Dul chun Cinn i dTráth Athraithe’. I measc na n-ábhar a pléadh, bhí ábhair ar nós borradh inbhuanaithe geilleagrach, poist amach anseo, soláthar tithíochta agus gníomhú ar son na haeráide. Tá na páipéir a chuir an Roinn le chéile chun na seisiúin seo a threorú ar fáil ar láithreán gréasáin an Bhuiséid.

Mar chuid den phróiseas buiséadach bliana iomláine, foilsíodh Tuarascáil Chaiteachais Lárbhliana 2019 (TCLB) in Iúil. Leagadh amach ann an seasamh tosaigh agus na paraiméadair ardleibhéil don Bhuiséad a bhí ag teacht aníos agus sonraí faoi ollmhéideanna caiteachais measta vótáilte ar bhonn comhiomlán agus Aire i gcaitheamh tréimhse trí bliana. Leagadh amach i mbliana sa TCLB dhá straitéis fhéideartha caiteachais, bhí ceann amháin bunaithe ar chás Brexit gan chomhaontú agus bhí an ceann eile bunaithe ar Brexit ordúil.

In 2017, chuir an Roinn tús leis an gcéad cheann de shraith d’Athbhreithnithe rollacha roghnaitheacha Caiteachais, ina gcuimsítear caiteachas uile an Rialtais i gcaitheamh tréimhse trí bliana go dtí 2019. Foilsíodh thart ar 81 páipéar go dtí seo. Cuirfear tús in 2020 le babhta nua trí bliana d’Athbhreithnithe Caiteachais, leanfar leis an bpróiseas ina ndéanfar measúnú criticiúil ar chláir chaiteachais ar bhonn rollach, fianaise a shuíomh i gceartlár an cheaptha beartais agus eolas a chur ar fáil don phlé faoi Mheastacháin le Ranna.

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Lean obair ar aghaidh in 2019 chun an Tionscnamh Buiséadta Feidhmíochta a leabú níos mó maidir le leithdháileadh acmhainní agus cinnteoireacht. Sa chomhthéacs sin, foilsíodh tríú Tuarascáil Feidhmíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí i mBealtaine. Tá mar chuspóir ag an tuarascáil seo chun barr feabhais a chur ar an díriú ar fheidhmíocht agus ar sholáthar trí tháscairí feidhmíochta cainníochtúla ábhartha a sholáthar i gcáipéis thiomnaithe dhírithe. Sular foilsíodh an tImleabhar Meastachán Athbhreithnithe (an IMA) i mí na Nollag, tugadh faoi athbhreithniú ar tháscairí feidhmíochta le gach Roinn Rialtais. Rinneadh tuairisciú freisin i dTuarascáil Feidhmíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí ar dhul chun cinn ar an gclár píolótach de Bhuiséadú Comhionannais, a rinneadh a fhairsingiú in 2019. Leagadh ceithre sprioc ardleibhéil déag amach do Chéim 2, agus bhí naoi Roinn Rialtais rannpháirteach go gníomhach sa Chéim dá bharr. Tugann obair na Roinne sa limistéar seo aird ar an gceanglas maidir le Dualgas na Seirbhíse Poiblí a leagtar amach in Alt 42 den Acht fá Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine agus Comhionannas, 2014.

D’fhostaigh an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannas agus an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe an ECFE chun tabhairt faoi Scanadh ar Bhuiséadú Comhionannais in Éirinn. Foilsíodh é ar lá an bhuiséid agus tugadh cuntas sa tuarascáil ar phríomh-mholtaí chun beartas Buiséadta Comhionannais a chur chun cinn. Cuireadh tús leis na moltaí seo a chur i bhfeidhm go déanach in 2019. Tacaíonn cruinnithe rialta an tSainghrúpa Chomhairligh um Buiséadú Comhionannais leis an obair a rinneadh maidir le Buiséadú Comhionannais freisin.

1.2. Caiteachas Vótáilte a Bhainistiú Údaraíonn an Dáil cistiú gach bliain do sheirbhísí agus gníomhaíochtaí an Rialtais i mbloic chaiteachais ar a dtugtar Vótaí. Limistéar ar leith de chaiteachas rialtais é Vóta, a bhfuil Roinn nó Oifig Rialtais amháin freagrach as. Déanann an Roinn monatóireacht agus bainistiú ar chaiteachas de réir Vótaí aonair, anuas ar anailís agus bainistiú ar chaiteachas poiblí ar leibhéal comhiomlán. Rinne an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe monatóireacht ar chaiteachas de réir Ranna in aghaidh próifílí míosúla caiteachais a foilsíodh ag tús na bliana. Foilsítear na figiúirí caiteachais seo ar bhonn míosúil sa Mhonatóir Fioscach, ina bhfuil príomhfhigiúirí ioncaim a d’fhoilsigh an Roinn Airgeadais. Ar an iomlán, rinne an Roinn maoirseacht ar ollchaiteachas reatha beagán de bhreis ar €60 billiún i Ranna in 2019, arb ionann sin agus méadú bliain ar bhliain beagnach €3 billiún nó 5.2% aníos ó thoradh 2018. Rinne an Roinn an méid seo a leanas freisin: scrúdú agus measúnú ar thograí a rinne Ranna agus Gníomhaireachtaí ar bhonn luach ar airgead agus um beartú tosaíochta acmhainní; chuir sí comhairle ar fáil faoi cibé acu ar cheart nó nár cheart na tograí a cheadú; agus rinne sí athbhreithniú ar agus comhairle a chur ar fáil faoi bheartas agus feidhmíocht comhlachtaí Stáit. Níor sháraigh fiche a cúig de chaiteachas bainistithe na 42 Vóta laistigh de na bun-leithdháiltí vótáilte don bhliain 2019, agus theastaigh Meastacháin Fhorlíontacha ó na 17 gcinn eile i mí na Nollag. Astu seo, ba Mheastacháin Fhorlíontacha theicniúla 4 cinn. I measc rudaí eile, soláthraíodh sna Meastacháin Fhorlíontacha shubstainteacha in 2019 caiteachas breise chun Bónas na Nollag 100% a sholáthar d’fhaighteoirí Leasa Shóisialaigh agus don tSeirbhís Sláinte agus do Chóiríocht Iarrthóirí Tearmainn. Mar gheall ar choigilteas i measc Ranna eile, bhí an caiteachas foriomlán don bhliain ar aon dul, den chuid ba mhó, leis an tsuim a leagtar amach i dTuarascáil Chaiteachais 2020.

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Mar gheall ar chineál a róil, déanann an Roinn idirchaidreamh forleathan freisin le Ranna agus comhlachtaí poiblí eile maidir le réimse fairsing beartais earnála ar fud an Rialtais trína chéile.

1.3. Caiteachas Caipitiúil a Bhainistiú Rinne an Roinn maoirseacht ar ollchaiteachas €7.2 billiún ag Ranna in 2019, arb ionann sin agus méadú bliain ar bhliain €1.2 billiún nó 20% ar infheistíocht chaipitil, aníos ó thoradh €6.0 billiún 2018 sa Chuntas Leithreasa, a léiríonn tiomantas an Rialtais do chaiteachas caipitiúil a mhéadú ar aon dul leis an bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta. Lorgaíonn Tionscadal Éireann 2040 - an Plean Forbartha Náisiúnta (an PFN) agus an Creat Pleanála Náisiúnta - a sheol an Rialtas in 2018 le hathchóiriú a dhéanamh ar an mbealach a phleanáil agus a sholáthraítear infheistíocht phoiblí chun inbhuanaitheacht fhadtéarmach gheilleagrach, shóisialta agus chomhshaoil a bhaint amach. Áirítear leis infheistíocht €116 billiún thar thréimhse deich mbliana tríd an Státchiste agus cuideachtaí Leathstáit. Tá naisc iompair níos fearr á soláthar ag Tionscadal Éireann 2040, agus tá torthaí níos fearr sláinte agus comhshaoil á n-éascú aige agus tá aschur níos mó tithíochta á spreagadh aige cheana féin. Cuirtear san áireamh i gcur i bhfeidhm an PFN na moltaí ó Mheasúnú ar Bhainistíochta Infheistíochta Poiblí 2017 (MBIP) an Chiste Airgeadaíochta Idirnáisiúnta (an CAI) a dheimhnigh go n-éiríonn le hÉirinn bainistíocht sách maith a dhéanamh ar a bonneagar poiblí, ar an iomlán, agus tugadh idir láidreachtaí agus laigí chun solais ann i gcóras bainistíochta infheistíochta na hÉireann a bhfuil breithniú le déanamh orthu. Lean an t-aschur seo a leanas ag tacú le PI2040 a chur i bhfeidhm in 2019:

Tógáil 2019 – Feidhmíocht agus Ionchais san Earnáil Tógála a fhoilsiú.

Ionchais - Mórthionscadail Bhonneagair ar na Bacáin in Éirinn a fhoilsiú ina sonraítear eolas ardleibhéil faoi 50 ceann de na tionscadail is mó a chuirtear san áireamh i dTionscadal Éireann 2040.

An chéad Tuarascáil Bhliantúil a fhoilsiú ina leagtar amach dul chun cinn go dtí seo maidir le soláthar, anuas ar fhorbairtí beartais ar fud an chórais.

Ocht dTuarascáil Réigiúnacha a fhoilsiú ina sonraítear soláthar agus pleananna infheistíochta faoi Thionscadal Éireann 2040.

Cód Caiteachais Phoiblí nuashonraithe a fhoilsiú i ndiaidh próiseas comhairliúcháin fairsing chun an treoir reatha a neartú d’infheistíocht phoiblí chun an réadúlacht a chur in iúl níos fearr a bhíonn i gceist maidir le tionscadal a sholáthar agus díriú ar leith ar bhreithmheas airgeadais, meastachán ar chostas agus bainistíocht riosca.

Uirlis léarscáilithe Mo Thionscadal Éireann (‘Myprojectireland’), a fhoilsiú anuas ar Rianaire Infheistíochta nuashonraithe agus fairsingithe.

Ionadaíocht á déanamh do Thionscadal Éireann 2040 ag an gComórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta.

Faoi mar a dtugtar cuntas air sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta (an PFN), leanfaidh Comhpháirtíochtaí Príobháideacha Poiblí (CPPanna) le bheith mar rogha soláthair atá ar fáil don Rialtas do thionscadail atá struchtúraithe go cuí a léiríonn luach ar airgead i gcomparáid le rogha soláthair traidisiúnta agus a shásaíonn na tástálacha daingne agus diana le haghaidh breithmheas tionscadail a bhaineann le gach tionscadal infheistíochta poiblí faoin gCód Caiteachais Phoiblí. Seachas tabhairt faoi chlár ar leith de thionscadail CPP, déantar cinntí faoi thabhairt faoi thionscadail bhreise trí CPP taken ar bhonn cás ar

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chás, bunaithe ar na fiúntais a bhaineann le CPP a úsáid i gcás gach tionscadal aonair i gcomparáid leis an rogha soláthair thraidisiúnta eile.

1.4. Seirbhís Mheastóireachta agus Eacnamaíochta

Rialtas na hÉireann Is seirbhís chomhtháite agus tras-Rialtais í Seirbhís Mheastóireachta agus Eacnamaíochta Rialtas na hÉireann (SMERÉ) a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige tacú le beartas a cheapadh agus a chur i bhfeidhm níos fearr sa Státseirbhís trí anailís sonraí agus beartais a úsáid. Tá foireann SMERÉ ag oibriú laistigh de gach Roinn agus iad ag cur le saineolas iad siúd a dhéanann anailís ar bheartas agus beartas a cheapadh. Lean borradh ag teacht ar SMERÉ in 2019 aníos go dtí thart ar 200 eacnamaí/anailís beartais ar fud na Státseirbhíse. Lean an Roinn in 2019 ag tacú le SMERÉ chun acmhainn a fhorbairt i gceapadh beartais atá bunaithe ar fhianaise sa Státseirbhís. B’éard a bhain leis seo ná sainearcaíocht lárnach - 31 Anailísí Beartais Céimí SMERÉ (leibhéal Oifigeach Riaracháin) agus earcaíodh 12 Eacnamaí/Anailísí Beartais (leibhéal Príomhoifigigh Chúnta) in 2019 - soghluaisteacht struchtúrach, intéirneachtaí samhraidh do mhic léinn, deiseanna spriocdhírithe foghlama agus forbartha, agus comhdhálacha agus imeachtaí eile a eagrú mar ardáin le haghaidh plé ar anailís agus an méid a bhaineann sé le beartas. Rinneadh sraith foghlama agus forbartha SMERÉ a fhairsingiú freisin in 2019. Áiríodh leis seo oiliúint ar Anailís Costais is Tairbhe, Anailís Ilchritéar, Measúnacht Tionchair Rialála, agus cúrsaí i gcláir staitistiúla ríomhaire (R agus Stata). Ina theannta sin, d’éascaigh baill de SMERÉ modúl den Chlár do Chéimithe na Státseirbhíse: inar tugadh cuntas ar uirlisí déanta beartais atá bunaithe ar fhianaise do OCanna a earcaíodh le déanaí agus do Thríú Rúnaithe ó áiteanna ar fud na Státseirbhíse; a chuir oiliúint ar fáil ar Chásanna Gnó ar leibhéil tosaigh agus mheánacha araon; agus a rinne clár saincheaptha ionduchtúcháin a sholáthar do OCanna SMERÉ a earcaíodh le déanaí. Chuir foireann SMERÉ ar fud na Ranna breis agus 50 páipéar le chéile in 2019, inar cuimsíodh ábhar éagsúla, sláinte, coimirce shóisialach, oideachas, athrú aeráide, cáin beartas, agus caiteachas caipitiúil ina measc, agus tá gach ceann díobh ar fáil ar láithreán gréasáin SMERÉ. Foilsíodh roinnt díobh seo mar chuid de Athbhreithniú Caiteachais 2019 agus Buiséad 2020. Chun tacú le díospóireacht beartais agus ceapadh beartais atá bunaithe ar fhianaise, d’eagraigh SMERÉ dhá chomhdháil in 2019 (Comhdháil Athbhreithniú Caiteachais SMERÉ agus Comhdháil Bhliantúil SMERÉ) agus d’óstáil sé roinnt seimineár. Anuas air sin, ghlac foireann SMERÉ ó áiteanna ar fud an líonra páirt i gcomhdhálacha seachtracha éagsúla, Ceardlann Gheilleagrach Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Comhdháil Mhargadh Saothair Institiúid Taighde Eacnamaíocht Nevin (NERI) ina measc. Leanadh le Ciste Taighde SMERÉ in 2019 freisin, a bunaíodh chun tacú le hobair anailíseach maidir le saincheisteanna beartais trasrannacha. Leithdháileadh ciste 2019 chun tacú le dhá thionscadal nua chomhoibritheacha ina raibh an Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige agus an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh (an POS) páirteach, anuas ar an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe (an RCPA) agus an Roinn Gnó, Fiontair agus Nuálaíochta (an RGFN).

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Forbraíodh Straitéis Mheántéarma SMERÉ don tréimhse 2020-22 i rith an dara leath den bhliain 2019, a bhí curtha ar an eolas ag athbhreithniú a rinne an ECFE ar an tseirbhís agus comhairliúchán forleathan le páirtithe leasmhara. Seoladh seo go luath in 2020.

1.5. Cuntasaíocht Rialtais Is é an ról atá ag an Aonad Cuntasaíochta Rialtais (an ACR) ná forbairt a chur leis na beartais, na prionsabail agus leis na nósanna imeachta cuntasaíochta rialtais agus bainistíocht agus cuntasacht mhaith airgeadais a chur chun cinn agus a neartú ar fud Ranna agus Oifigí an Rialtais. Rinne an ACR scrúdú ar aistriú ó chuntasaíocht airgid thirim go dtí cuntasaíocht fabhraithe a chur chun cinn do Ranna agus Oifigí an Rialtais Láir, agus aird ar chlár athchóirithe níos fairsinge, tabhairt isteach na Seirbhísí Comhroinnte Bainistíochta Airgeadais (SCBA) agus forbairtí ar leibhéal an AE ina measc a bhaineann le caighdeáin chuntasaíochta chomhchuibhithe a chur i bhfeidhm – Caighdeáin Eorpacha Chuntasaíochta na hEarnála Poiblí (CECEP). Mar chuid den Chlár Tacaíochta um Athchóiriú Struchtúrach an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh (CTAS), thug an ECFE faoi mheasúnú ar Chreat Cuntasaíochta an Rialtais Láir agus shainaithin sé treochlár chun athchóirithe tuairiscithe a chur i bhfeidhm, aistriú chuig cuntasaíocht fabhraithe ina measc. I ndiaidh dul i gcomhairle le príomhpháirtithe leasmhara, d’fhoilsigh an ECFE a tuarascáil Tuairisciú Airgeadais in Éirinn i Meitheamh, ina leagtar amach a phríomhthorthaí agus ina moltar cur chuige céimnithe cur i bhfeidhm. Rinneadh na príomhthionscnaimh seo a leanas a thabhairt chun cinn:

Tuairisciú agus Cuntasaíocht Airgeadais Phoiblí a Nuachóiriú: I nDeireadh Fómhair, thug an Rialtas faoi deara an réimse athchóirithe ar chóras tuairiscithe agus cuntasaíochta airgeadais na hÉireann a mhol an ECFE. Chomhaontaigh sé ar threochlár achoimreach chun iad a chur i bhfeidhm i rith 2019 agus i mblianta ina dhiaidh sin, agus an gá á thabhairt faoi deara atá le cur chuige comhoibritheach chun an saineolas faoi bhainistíocht airgeadais a chur san áireamh atá ann cheana féin ar fud an Rialtais láir.

An Cód Caiteachais Phoiblí: Is éard atá sa Chód Caiteachais Phoiblí ná tacar rialacha, nósanna imeachta agus treoir chun Luach ar Airgead a chinntiú i gcaiteachas poiblí i Seirbhís Poiblí na hÉireann. In Iúil 2019, d’fhoilsigh an ACR Ciorclán 18/2019 a leasaigh Tagairtí Teicniúla Lárnacha agus Paraiméadair Bhreithmheasa Eacnamaíochta an Chóid Chaiteachais Phoiblí. Foilsíodh ábhar treorach breise forlíontach i mí na Nollag. D’fhoilsigh an ACR Ciorclán 24/2019 i Nollaig freisin, a nuashonraigh an Cód Caiteachais Phoiblí, i measc rudaí eile, faoi mar a bhaineann sé le caiteachas caipitiúil agus nuashonraigh sé an treoir maidir le Comhpháirtíochtaí Príobháideacha Poiblí.

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2 Brexit agus Comhoibriú Idirnáisiúnta

2.1. Brexit Tá Aonad tiomnaithe Brexit/AE freagrach as Brexit, saincheisteanna AE agus eile idirnáisiúnta ar fud na Roinne a chomhordú agus a mhaoirsiú agus as cur leis an bhfreagairt uile-Rialtais do Brexit.

Lean an tAonad i gcaitheamh 2019 ag dul i ngleic leis na saincheisteanna a tháinig chun solais mar thoradh ar reifreann 2016 an RA maidir le ballraíocht den AE, a thionchar san áireamh ar chaidreamh na hÉireann amach anseo leis an AE agus an RA araon, agus le Tuaisceart Éireann, ach go háirithe. Áiríodh leis an obair seo ullmhúcháin na Roinne do Brexit i ngach cás a chomhordú, ar aon dul le Plean Gníomhaíochta Teagmhais an Rialtais, i limistéir ar nós soláthar poiblí, cláir AE agus na riachtanas bonneagair ag calafoirt agus aerfoirt. Ullmhaíodh Buiséad 2020 ar bhonn Brexit gan chomhaontú agus cuireadh bearta sonracha san áireamh a bhí dírithe ar leanúint lenár bhfreagairt leanúnach agus áirítear leo chuimsitheach do thionchar Brexit ar fud an Rialtais.

Thacaigh an Roinn leis an Aire mar bhall den Choiste Comh-Aireachta Gnóthaí Brexit, Eachtracha agus Eorpacha.

2.2. Ceisteanna AE I mbliain inar bunaíodh Parlaimint na hEorpa agus Coimisiún Eorpach nua agus inar tháinig tosaíochtaí nua chun solais ar leibhéal AE, chuir an Roinn le beartas a bhain leis AE a fhorbairt ar fud an Rialtais, trí obair an Ghrúpa Idir-Roinne ar an AE agus Brexit agus ghrúpaí gaolmhara idir-rannacha ina measc. Déanann Aonad Brexit/an AE saincheisteanna an AE a chomhordú, a bhfuil an Roinn freagrach astu, anuas ar thacú le hobair Rannán eile, trí attaché agus foireann tacaíochta atá bunaithe i mBuanionadaíocht na hÉireann chuig an AE sa Bhruiséil. Tá i measc na saincheisteanna seo soláthar poiblí, Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais, beartas Comhtháthaithe, airgeadas aeráide, Rialacháin Foirne an AE, faisnéis na hEarnála Poiblí agus sceithireacht.

2.3. Comhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas Cé nárbh fhéidir cruinnithe earnála na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas (an CATT) a chur ar siúl a bhaineann le Comhlacht na gClár Speisialta AE in 2019 mar gheall nach raibh Feidhmeannacht ann i dTuaisceart Éireann, lean an Roinn ag tacú le hobair maidir le comhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas a rinneadh faoi choimirce an CATT agus Comhlachtaí um Chur chun Feidhme (CCFTTanna). D’oibrigh an Roinn, ach go háirithe, le contrapháirteanna i Roinn Airgeadais Thuaisceart Éireann maidir le saincheisteanna rialachais airgeadais a bhain leis na Comhlachtaí um Chur chun Feidhme Thuaidh-Theas a bunaíodh faoi Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, agus rinne siad chomhaontú ar theimpléad nua de Mheabhrán Airgeadais in 2019.

2.4. Cláir Chistí Struchtúracha an AE D’éirigh le Éirinn chun luach €1.2 billiún de Chistí Struchtúracha AE a fháil don tréimhse 2014-2020. As seo, tá €411 milliún de curtha ar leataobh le haghaidh clár a chomhchistíonn Ciste Forbraíochta Réigiúnaí na hEorpa (CFRE), as a bhfuil freagracht fhoriomlán uirthi. Leithdháiltear €610 milliún ar Chiste Sóisialta na hEorpa (CSE) agus an Tionscnamh Fostaíochta don Ógra (TFÓ) faoi choimirce na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna.

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Tiomnaítear €169 milliún sa bhreis do naoi gClár Eorpacha um Chomhar Críochach (ECC), agus i measc na gceann is suntasaí, tá an dá Chlár Thuaidh-Theas (PEACE IV agus INTERREG IVA). D’oibrigh an Roinn go dlúth in 2019 le hÚdaráis Bhainistithe CFRE chun spriocdháta N+3 na hÉireann, an 31 Nollaig 2019, a bhaint amach, a chinntíonn nach ndéantar cistiú CFRE an AE a shaoradh. B’ionann fáltais CFRE don bhliain 2019 agus €24.5 milliún. Leagtar amach thíos sonraí faoi roinnt de na príomhthionscnaimh a rinne dul chun cinn i rith 2019:

Cláir Thuaidh-Theas: D’oibrigh an Roinn go dlúth leis an Roinn Airgeadais i dTuaisceart Éireann agus Comhlacht na gClár Speisialta AE (CCSAE) chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar Chláir trasteorann PEACE agus INTERREG 2014-2020. Cuireann an AE 85% den chistiú ar fáil do na cláir seo trí Chiste Forbraíochta Réigiúnaí na hEorpa agus tá luach iomlán €553 milliún orthu. Faoi dheireadh 2019, bhí tiomnú iomlán faighte don dá chlár, agus bhí tacaíocht á tabhairt do 128 tionscadal. Chuir an Roinn tús freisin le pleanáil do chlár nua PEACE PLUS a bheartaigh an AE mar chlár a thiocfaidh in ionad PEACE agus INTERREG don tréimhse 2021-2027, ag oibriú go dlúth le FCSAE agus an Roinn Airgeadais, Tuaisceart Éireann.

Comhar Críochach Eorpach: Anuas ar na Cláir Thuaidh-Theas, comhpháirtí í Éire freisin i gclár INTERREG na hÉireann-na Breataine Bige (a bhfuil luach iomlán nach mór €100 milliún air i rith thréimhse chláir 2014-2020), anuas ar roinnt cláir thrasnáisiúnta, Cláir Cheantar an Atlantaigh, Iarthuaisceart na hEorpa, agus an Fhorimill Thuaidh agus Artacha ina measc. Tá an Roinn ag tabhairt faoin bpróiseas pleanála faoi láthair do gach ceann de na trí chlár thrasnáisiúnta don tréimhse chláir 2021-2027.

Údarás Iniúchóireachta CFRE: Ina cháil mar an tÚdarás Ainmnithe in Éirinn don tréimhse chlárthréimhse 2014-2020, chríochnaigh an tAonad an t-iniúchadh ar Chuntais 2017/18 agus d’eascair tuairim gan choinníoll as. Cuireadh seo faoi bhráid an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh sa mhullach ar Thuarascáil Bhliantúil ar Rialú an Údaráis i bhFeabhra 2019. Mar chuid den athbhreithniú ar Chuntais 2018/19, chríochnaigh an tÚdarás 30 iniúchadh ar oibríochtaí agus thug sé faoi 16 iniúchadh ar chórais i measc an dá Chláir Réigiúnaigh. Seoladh an Tuarascáil Bhliantúil ar Rialú agus an tuairim gan choinníoll faoi na cuntais ar aghaidh i bhFeabhra 2020.

Chuir an Roinn an Coiste Faireacháin um an gComhaontú Comhpháirtíochta (CFCC) ar siúl i mí na Nollag do pháirtithe leasmhara agus don Choimisiún. Déanann seo faireachán ar dhul chun cinn ar a chur i bhfeidhm na gcuspóirí straitéiseacha a shainaithnítear sa Chomhaontú Comhpháirtíochta; agus cuireann sé nuashonruithe ar fáil ar shaincheisteanna a bhaineann le cur i bhfeidhm.

Chuir an Roinn tús le rannpháirtíocht fhoirmiúil maidir le Comhaontú Comhpháirtíochta 2021-2027 agus Cláir Oibríochtúla CFRE a fhorbairt i rith 2019. Thionóil sí Cruinniú Forléargais Straitéisigh Forbartha Cláir (Faire na fáistine), ar fóram ardleibhéil é ina ndéantar plé ar na chéad chéimeanna eile/na hamlínte le haghaidh dul chun cinn i mBealtaine 2019. Thug an Roinn freisin faoi athbhreithniú ar struchtúir chláir don chéad bhabhta eile de chistiú. Cuireadh tús le soláthar d’Anailís ar Riachtanais don chéad bhabhta eile de chláir i Ráithe 4 2019.

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2.5. Beartas Cistí Struchtúracha agus Infheistíochta na

Eorpa (CSIE) Tá idirbheartaíocht a tosaíodh in 2018 ar an gcéad bhabhta de Chistí Struchtúracha beagnach críochnaithe anois. Cuireadh tús leis an bpróiseas seo nuair a d’fhoilsigh an Coimisiún an Creat Airgeadais Ilbhliantúil (an CAIB) an 2 Bealtaine 2018. Foilsíodh pacáiste Reachtaíochta a Bheartais Chomhtháthaithe ina dhiaidh sin an 29 Bealtaine, anuas ar leithdháiltí tosaigh táscacha de thacaíocht chiste struchtúraigh agus chomhtháthaithe do gach ballstát. Measadh gurbh ionann leithdháileadh na hÉireann agus €1.088 billiún ag an am ach ní dheimhneofar a leithdháileadh deiridh, agus an dáileadh i measc na gCistí éagsúla, go dtí go dtabharfar an idirbheartaíocht ar an CAIB chun críche (ach tá súil leis, áfach, go mbeidh sé níos ísle ná an méid sin, i ndeireadh na dála). I dturas an ama, comhaontaíodh ar sheasamh na Comhairle maidir leis an bpacáiste foriomlán agus tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ag idirbheartaíocht le Parlaimint na hEorpa ag féachaint leo seo a chur i gcrích sula dtosóidh an chéad tréimhse chláir eile.

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3 Pá, Pinsin agus Caidreamh Tionsclaíoch na Seirbhíse Poiblí

3.1. Comhaontú Cobhsaíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí

2018-2020 Bhuntacaigh na hAchtanna um Bearta Airgeadais Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail, 2009-2013 (BAÉLP) le laghduithe pá agus pinsin na seirbhíse poiblí ó 2009 ar aghaidh. I dteannta a chéile, ghlac an coigilteas a chruthaigh na bearta seo páirt ríthábhachtach i gcobhsú an airgeadais phoiblí.

Rinneadh idirbheartaíocht ar Chomhaontú Cobhsaíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí (an CCSP) 2018-2020 chun díscaoileadh breise inbhuanaithe na mbeart seo a sholáthar, ar próiseas é ar cuireadh tús leis faoi BAÉLP 2015. Leanadh ar aghaidh leis an gcomhaontú, a fheidhmíonn go fóill mar an gcreat caidrimh thionsclaíoch don tSeirbhís Phoiblí go dtí deireadh 2020, in 2019 chun sochair a sholáthar do ghrúpaí ioncaim éagsúla idir 2-2.5% ar an meán, trí mheascán d’athchóiriú ar an Asbhaint a bhaineann le Pinsean agus ar mhéaduithe pá. Mar thoradh air sin, tá díscaoileadh céimnithe na nAchtanna BAÉLP 2009-2013 beagnach críochnaithe.

Baineadh tiontú na hAsbhainte a bhaineann le Pinsean ó bheart éigeandála sealadach go Ranníocaíocht Aoisliúntais Bhreise bhuan amach freisin, i ndiaidh sruth cistithe beagán de bhreis ar €650 milliún a fháil in 2019 chun cabhrú le híoc as costais phinsin seirbhíse poiblí.

Cuireadh tús leis an gcomhaontú a baineadh amach idir an Rialtas agus Coiste Seirbhísí Poiblí Chomhdháil na gCeardchumann a chur i bhfeidhm i measc na saincheisteanna eile maidir leis an scála tuarastail d’Iontrálaithe Nua i Márta 2019. Le himeacht ama, bronnfaidh seo meánsochar thart ar €3,300 ar bhreis agus 61,500 iontrálaí nua, anuas ar na croíshochair a sholáthraítear faoi Chomhaontú Cobhsaíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí. Rinneadh costas an chomhaontaithe seo a chéimniú lena chinntiú go bhfuil an riachtanas caiteachais bliana iomláine, a meastar gurb ionann é agus €200 milliún, inbhuanaithe i dtaobh cúrsaí fioscacha de.

Sholáthair an CCSP an tsolúbthacht chun dul i ngleic le saincheisteanna éagsúla in 2019 ar bhonn cothrom agus inbhuanaithe, na saincheisteanna eile maidir leis an scála tuarastail d’iontrálaithe nua, deacrachtaí earcaíochta agus coinneála sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí, agus saincheisteanna caidrimh thionsclaíoch san Earnáil Sláinte ina measc.

3.2. An Coimisiún um Pá na Seirbhíse Poiblí (an CPSP) Bunaíodh an Coimisiún um Pá na Seirbhíse Poiblí in 2016 chun comhairle a chur ar an Rialtas ar bheartas luach saothair seirbhíse poiblí agus tá ceithre thuarascáil, ar an iomlán, curtha ar fáil aige. Ba é sainordú tosaigh an Choimisiúin chun tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar conas ba cheart do dhíschaoileadh reachtaíocht na mBeart Airgeadais Éigeandála ar Mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (BAÉLP) 2009 go 2013 leanúint ar aghaidh. Pléadh seo i gcéad tuarascáil an Choimisiúin, a foilsíodh i mBealtaine 2017.

Ina dhiaidh seo, d’eisigh an tAire Téarmaí Tagartha breise, a d’iarr ar an gCoimisiún a dheimhniú cibé acu an ann nó nach ann do dheacracht agus cé chomh mór atá an deacracht sin i dtaobh earcaíochta agus coinneála i gcás grúpaí/gráid/earnálacha ar leith den tSeirbhís Phoiblí. Ghlac sé le cur chuige modúlach, agus rinne sé tuairisciú i Lúnasa

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2018 ar shaincheisteanna a bhaineann le hAltranas agus Cnáimhseachas, Dochtúirí Ospidéil nach Comhairleoirí iad agus Comhairleoirí Ospidéil. D’fhoilsigh sé a thríú tuarascáil i mBealtaine 2019 a bhain leis na Fórsaí Cosanta agus ghlac an Rialtas agus na hionadaithe foirne ábhartha lena thograí. Foilsíodh a thuarascáil deiridh i nDeireadh Fómhair 2019, an tráth a thug sé a chlár oibre chun críche agus an tráth a d’éag a shainordú. Rinneadh anailís ardleibhéil sa tuarascáil seo ar na gráid agus na speisialtachtaí eile a tugadh chun solais ina thuarascáil a foilsíodh i mBealtaine 2017 mar gheall gur léir go raibh deacrachtaí earcaíochta agus coinneála acu. Áirítear leo seo sainghráid sa tseirbhís phoiblí, poist shinsearacha agus gráid ghairmithe áirithe sláinte seirbhíse poiblí.

3.3. Caidreamh Tionsclaíoch Caidreamh Tionsclaíoch a Bhainistiú D’oibrigh an Roinn go dian i rith 2019 chun dúshláin shuntasacha caidrimh thionsclaíoch a bhainistiú. Thit díospóidí suntasacha amach sa tSeirbhís Sláinte ina raibh Altraí agus Cnáimhseacha páirteach i Ráithe 1 2019 agus Gráid Tacaíochta Sláinte i Ráithe 3. Bhí an Roinn páirteach go gníomhach sa phróiseas réitigh díospóide don dá dhíospóid seo, agus chuir sí le réitigh chruthaitheacha a fhorbairt laistigh de chreat an CCSP. Rinne na réitigh seo:

saoránaigh a chosaint a bhraitheann ar sheirbhísí poiblí ríthábhachtacha;

cothromaíocht a bhaint amach idir buarthaí na bhfostaithe, an fhostóra agus an cháiníocóra; agus

an tionchar a imrítear le himeacht ama a chéimniú agus an costas ar an Státchiste a íoslaghdú.

Tá Moladh na Cúirte Oibreachais um Altranas agus Cnáimhseachas bunaithe ar chonradh nua a sholáthróidh táirgiúlacht bhreise agus a thacóidh le Sláintecare a thabhairt isteach.

Clár Caidrimh Thionsclaíoch na Státseirbhíse do Chéimithe Dearadh tionscnamh nua, Clár Caidrimh Thionsclaíoch na Státseirbhíse do Chéimithe, chun tacú le Feidhmeannaigh CT a fhorbairt a bhfuil na scileanna agus an t-eolas acu a theastaíonn chun bainistiú éifeachtach a dhéanamh ar chaidreamh tionsclaíoch i dtimpeallacht chasta agus éagsúil. Cuireadh tús leis i Márta 2019, lena chéad 6 rannpháirtí. Tá an clár ar siúl i rith dhá bhliain agus baineann trí shealaíocht taithí oibre leis a mhaireann 8 mí, a thugann taithí phraiticiúil do rannpháirtithe sa Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe, an Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara, agus sa Choimisiún um Chaidreamh san Áit Oibre. Tá ar rannpháirtithe freisin chun Dioplóma Gairmiúil saincheaptha a chríochnú i gCaidreamh Tionsclaíoch ar Leibhéal 9 ar an gCreat Náisiúnta Cáilíochtaí (an CNC) a dearadh chun freastal ar riachtanais ar leith thimpeallacht CT na Státseirbhíse.

3.4. Scéim Pinsin Aonair na Seirbhíse Poiblí Oibríonn breis agus 350 fostóir seirbhíse poiblí ar fud na n-earnálacha go léir an Scéim Pinsin Aonair na Seirbhíse Poiblí (“an Scéim Aonair”), a tugadh isteach in 2013 do gach iontrálaí nua chuig an tSeirbhís Phoiblí. Aonad tiomnaithe é Tionscadal Riaracháin na Scéime Aonair (TRSA), a bunaíodh sa Roinn in 2016 chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar na roghanna chun an scéim a riar go fadtéarmach agus chun tacú le riarachán reatha na Scéime. I rith 2019, lean an tAonad le clár fairsing oiliúna teicniúla a sholáthar do riarthóirí pinsin. Anuas ar na 5 mhodúl a forbraíodh roimhe seo, dearadh modúl nua Ceannaigh agus Aistrithe. Soláthraíodh gach ceann de na 6 mhodúl i gcaitheamh 30 seisiún ceardlann oiliúna. Ghlac 613 riarthóir pinsin, ar an iomlán, ó 191 fostóir seirbhíse poiblí páirt in 2019.

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Leanadh le hábhair thacaíochta, teimpléid, treoirlínte agus sraitheanna straitéisí, a chur ar fáil trí láithreán gréasáin tiomnaithe na Scéime Pinsin Aonair. Cuireadh tús le Banc Sonraí na Scéime Aonair a thabhairt isteach i measc comhlachtaí seirbhíse poiblí i Ráithe 3 2019. I ndiaidh don Rialtas cinneadh a dhéanamh, bunaíodh an banc sonraí mar bheart eatramhach lena chinntiú go ndéantar sonraí ballraíochta do gach ball den Scéim ó 2013 ar aghaidh a choimeád i leith caighdeán coiteann ar feitheamh go ndéanfar cinneadh faoi riarachán fadtéarmach na Scéime Aonair.

Rinne an Roinn dul chun cinn suntasach freisin in 2019 ar bheartas a fhorbairt don Scéim Aonair. Tugadh rialacháin isteach a rinne saoráid “Ceannach agus Aistriú” a thabhairt isteach do bhaill den Scéim Aonair i Meitheamh 2019, agus críochnaíodh athbhreithniú ar ranníocaíocht fostóra na Scéime Aonair agus eisíodh treoir leasaithe maidir le beartas dílsithe.

3.5. Ceisteanna eile Pá agus Pinsean Socruithe Pá Tosaigh na Státseirbhíse Comhaontaíodh ar shocruithe leasaithe pá idir taobhanna na nOifigeach agus na Foirne ag an Ollchomhairle in 2019. Rinne na socruithe, a tugadh isteach faoi Chiorclán 08/2019 an RCPA: Socruithe Leasaithe a bhaineann le Pá Tosaigh, an bealach a nuachóiriú agus a shimpliú a chaitear le státseirbhísigh reatha i dtaobh pá a shocrú nuair a thugtar ardú céime dóibh i ndiaidh comórtais theoranta nó nuair a cheaptar/a earcaítear iad i ndiaidh comórtais oscailte. Athbhreithniú Achtúireach ar Dhliteanais Pinsin Seirbhíse Poiblí Thosaigh an Roinn in 2019 leis an gcéim bhailithe sonraí don athbhreithniú achtúireach tríbhliantúil ar phinsin seirbhíse poiblí. Ceanglaítear an t-athbhreithniú a dhéanamh, a bhfuiltear ag tabhairt faoi thar ceann na Príomh-Oifige Staidrimh, faoi Rialachán 549/2013 an AE agus críochnófar é in 2020. B’éard a bhain leis an gcéim bhailithe sonraí ná sonraí faoi bhaill aonair a bhailiú agus a thiomsú ó áiteanna ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí, ina raibh thart ar 500,000 taifead duine aonair i gceist ó beagnach 300 comhlacht seirbhíse poiblí agus úsáidfear iad chun dliteanas fabhraithe na bpinsean gairme seirbhíse poiblí a luacháil a bhí in Éirinn amhail an 31 Nollaig 2018. Foilsíodh an luacháil roimhe sin in 2017 agus leagadh amach inti dliteanas fabhraithe pinsin seirbhíse poiblí amhail an 31 Nollaig 2015. Clár Bainistíochta Pinsin Seirbhíse Poiblí D’fhorbair an Rannán Pá agus Pinsin Seirbhíse Poiblí an Clár Bainistíochta Pinsin Seirbhíse Poiblí i Ráithe 1 in 2019. Déanann an tionscnamh nuálach bainistíochta eolais agus pleanála comharbais seo leas a bhaint as saineolas inmheánach ar phinsin seirbhíse poiblí agus éascaíonn sé eolas a aistriú. Forbraíodh ábhair mhionsonraithe oiliúna laistigh den Rannán chun buntacú leis an gCúrsa saincheaptha Teastais Leibhéal 6 seo ar an CNC i mBainistíocht Pinsin Seirbhíse Poiblí. I rith 2019, chríochnaigh 35 rannpháirtí ón Rannán Pá agus Pinsean an Cúrsa Teastais, agus mhéadaigh seo an líon oifigigh roinne a bhfuil saineolas acu ar phinsin.

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4 Athnuachan na Státseirbhíse

4.1. Plean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse Leagtar amach i bPlean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse clár mór athraithe don Státseirbhís chomh maith le fís chun seirbhís den chéad scoth a sholáthar don Stát agus do mhuintir na hÉireann. Bíonn an Oifig Bainistíochta Chlár (an OBC), atá lonnaithe sa Roinn, ag oibriú ar bheartas athchóirithe na Státseirbhíse a fhorbairt agus a chur i gcrích faoi bhun chlár Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse. Lean sé le cur i bhfeidhm gníomhartha sa phlean a chomhordú agus a chur chun cinn i rith 2019. Foilsíodh an ceathrú tuarascáil ar dhul chun cinn ar Phlean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse i mBealtaine 2019 ina leagtar amach an t-ardleibhéal dul chun cinn a baineadh amach i ngach ceann de na gníomhartha sa phlean ó cuireadh i bhfeidhm é. Lean obair forbartha ar aghaidh le heolas a chur ar fáil d’Fhís agus Straitéis nua a chuirfidh leis an dul chun cinn a rinneadh go dtí seo maidir le hathchóiriú na Státseirbhíse, a shainaithneoidh roinnt tosaíochtaí nua agus a dhéanfar a ailíniú le Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020, an creat le haghaidh fhorbairt agus nuálaíocht na seirbhíse poiblí. Bunaíodh tascfhórsa de státseirbhísigh shinsearacha chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt na Físe agus na Straitéise i mí na Nollag 2019. Tá súil leis go go mbeidh tréimhse phleanála níos faide ag an bhFís agus an Straitéis nua agus cuirfidh próiseas forleathan rannpháirteachais le páirtithe leasmhara próiseas eolas ar fáil dó. Lean an OBC ag oibriú go dlúth le agus ag tacú le Bord Bainistíochta na Státseirbhíse (BBSS) a dhéanann maoirseacht ar Chlár Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse a sholáthar. Chas an BBSS le chéile sé huaire i gcaitheamh na bliana agus foilsítear a mhiontuairiscí ar Gov.ie. Ghlac foghrúpa den BBSS le príomhról freisin sa Straitéis Daoine don Státseirbhís. Tugadh faoi na príomhthionscnaimh seo a leanas:

An Suirbhé ar Rannpháirtíocht Fhostaithe na Státseirbhíse: Lean an OBC ag cabhrú le Ranna agus Oifigí chun a bPleananna Gníomhaíochta a chur i bhfeidhm mar fhreagairt do thorthaí an tSuirbhé ar Rannpháirtíocht Fostaithe na Státseirbhíse 2017. Titfidh an tríú leagan den suirbhé amach i Ráithe 3 2020.

Na Gradaim Sármhaitheasa agus Nuálaíochta sa Státseirbhís: Bhronn an tAire Gradaim Sármhaitheasa agus Nuálaíochta sa Státseirbhís 2019 ag searmanas i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath i Samhain 2019. Aithníonn na gradaim an obair dhian a dhéanann státseirbhísigh agus déanann siad taispeántas de nuálaíochtaí i soláthar beartais agus seirbhíse ar fud na Státseirbhíse. Mheall próiseas gradam 2019 breis agus 90 ainmniúchán ó áiteanna ar fud na Státseirbhíse agus cuireadh 32 tionscadal ar an ngearrliosta, agus bhain 11 thionscadal gradam amach. Cuireadh comhoibriú leis an tSeirbhís Phoiblí san áireamh i roinnt catagóirí i mbliana, chun bealach níos cuimsithí chun oibriú a léiriú. Tá sonraí faoi na tionscadail a bhuaigh gradam ar fáil ar Gov.ie.

Athbhreithnithe ar Acmhainneacht Eagraíochta: Leanadh leis an gclár athbhreithnithe ar acmhainneacht eagraíochta a chur i bhfeidhm i rith na bliana agus críochnaíodh athbhreithnithe don Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus don Roinn Tithíochta, Pleanála agus Rialtais Áitiúil.

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Todhchaí na hOibre sa Státseirbhís in Éirinn a Mhúnlú: Chríochnaigh Scoil Ghnó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath (DCU) tuarascáil ar thorthaí an tSuirbhé ar Rannpháirtíocht Fostaithe na Státseirbhíse 2017. Dírítear sa tuarascáil dar teideal Todhchaí na hOibre sa Státseirbhís in Éirinn a Mhúnlú ar roinnt de na limistéir is dúshlánaí a thugtar chun solais sa suirbhé, an méid seo a leanas ina measc: Timpeallacht na Rannpháirtíochta; Aeráid Nuálach; Bainistíocht Feidhmíochta; Dearcadh an Phobail i leith na Státseirbhíse. Thit an anailís bhreise amach i measc réimse Ranna agus Oifigí i roinnt réigiún ar fud na tíre.

An Clár Tacaíochta um Athchóiriú Struchtúrach (CTAS): Seoladh iarratas ar aghaidh, ar éirigh leis, ar Chlár Tacaíochta Struchtúraí an AE maidir le hathbhreithniú cuimsitheach ar struchtúr eagraíochta Státseirbhís na hÉireann agus ar threochlár a fhorbairt le haghaidh claochlú eagraíochta. Beartaítear go dtosófar le hobair ar an tionscadal in 2020.

An tSuirbhé ar Shásamh Custaiméirí na Státseirbhíse: Foilsíodh torthaí an tSuirbhé ar Shásamh Custaiméirí na Státseirbhíse 2019 i Samhain 2019. Thug an tuarascáil le fios go raibh 85% de na custaiméirí a ndearnadh suirbhé orthu sásta leis an tseirbhís a cuireadh ar fáil dóibh (aníos ó 83% in 2017 agus 76% in 2015) agus leis an toradh a bhí ar an teagmháil is déanaí a rinne siad leis an Státseirbhís (aníos ó 82% in 2017 agus 76% in 2015), agus tháinig laghdú ar mhíshásamh anuas ó 39% in 2009 go 20% in 2019. De bhreis air sin, thug 89% de chustaiméirí le fios go bhfuil leibhéil seirbhíse a fheabhas agus a mbíonn súil acu leo nó níos fearr ná mar a mbíonn súil acu leo, den chuid is mó, (aníos ó 87% in 2017 agus 83% in 2015), agus bhí 87% sásta leis an eolas a bhí ag an bhfoireann agus leis an gcabhair a thug siad. Tá feabhas tagtha freisin ar thuairimí an phobail faoi éifeachtúlacht, iontaoibh, neamhspleáchas agus comhionannas na Státseirbhíse ó 2017.

An Bonneagar Sonraí Náisiúnta (an BSN): Rinneadh dul chun cinn breise maidir leis an mBonneagar Sonraí Náisiúnta a fhorbairt in 2019. Déanann an Grúpa Seaimpíní, ar a ndéanann an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh (an POS) cathaoirleacht, le hionadaithe ó gach Roinn agus gníomhaireacht a bhfuil sonraí ardluacha acu, monatóireacht ar phríomhaitheantóirí agus chumhdach príomhaitheantóirí a chur chun cinn i measc sealúchais sonraí earnála poiblí a chur chun cinn. Tugtar achoimre i nDeais an BSN, a d’fhorbair an grúpa, ar an méid is airde de UPSPanna agus d’Éirchóid a chumhdach le haghaidh príomhshealúchais sonraí Ranna agus ghníomhaireachtaí Rialtais atá faoina gcoimirce agus aithnítear ann an áit a bhfuil deiseanna ar fáil le haghaidh cumhdach feabhsaithe an UPSP agus an Éirchóid i gcórais agus próisis riaracháin. Tacóidh na feabhsúcháin seo le tionscnaimh a bhaineann go sonrach le Comhlacht na Seirbhíse Poiblí sa chéad ásc agus tacóidh siad le tionscnamh níos fairsinge na roinnte sonraí faoi mar a bheartaítear san Acht um Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí. Beartaítear go ndéanfar an cur chuige seo a chur i bhfeidhm ar an Aitheantóir Gnó Uathúil (an AGU) in 2020.

Straitéisí/Cláir Eile: Rinneadh dul chun cinn breise maidir le Clár Cumarsáide an Rialtais nuair a tugadh aitheantas Rialtas na hÉireann isteach agus nuair a aistríodh Ranna chuig Gov.ie, an tairseach le haghaidh seirbhísí agus eolas Rialtais. Chuathas i mbun beart freisin chun feabhas a chur ar an acmhainn bhainistíochta tionscadal sa Státseirbhís agus chun é a ailíniú le Gníomh 10 de Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020 chun bainistíocht clár agus tionscadal a leabú. Chuir Líonra na mBainisteoirí Tionscadail ceithre imeacht ar siúl i rith na bliana. Tá an Líonra ar fáil anois don tseirbhís phoiblí níos fairsinge agus tá tairseach thiomnaithe nua ar fáil ar láithreán gréasáin ÁSPS 2020 atá inrochtana do chách, fostaithe sa tseirbhís phoiblí ina measc nach bhfuil ar Líonra an Rialtais. Lean OneLearning leis an gcúrsa bonnleibhéil i mbainistíocht tionscadal a

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sholáthar do státseirbhísigh agus chríochnaigh thart ar 1,680 oifigeach an cúrsa ó cuireadh tús leis go déanach in 2017.

Lean clár leanúnach cumarsáide agus rannpháirtíochta don fhoireann ar aghaidh, nuachtlitreacha ina measc faoi Athnuachan na Státseirbhíse, cruinnithe i hallaí baile timpeall na tíre agus seisiúin faisnéise foirne do státseirbhísigh in 2019. Cuireadh aitheantas nua chun athchóiriú agus nuálaíocht na Státseirbhíse agus athchóiriú na seirbhíse poiblí a chur in iúl níos fearr, a forbraíodh i rith 2019, i bhfeidhm go luath in 2020.

4.2. An Straitéis Daoine don Státseirbhís 2017-2020 Cuimsítear sa i gClár Athnuachana na Stáseirbhíse freisin an Straitéis Daoine don Státseirbhís 2017-2020, a forbraíodh chun an ceanglas Dualgas Seirbhíse Poiblí a leagtar amach in alt 42 den Acht fá Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine agus Comhionannas, 2014 a chur san áireamh. Tacaíodh le cuspóirí na Straitéise trí roinnt príomhthionscnamh a chuir an Roinn i bhfeidhm faoi thrí thosaíocht straitéiseacha agus faoi thosaíocht chumasaithe amháin den Straitéis, faoi mar a leagtar amach thíos.

4.2.1. Bí i do Rogha Fostóra Lean obair ar aghaidh chun an Státseirbhís a chur chun cinn mar Rogha Fostóra don fhoireann reatha agus d’earcaithe nua féideartha, tríd na tionscadail agus na limistéir oibre seo a leanas ina measc:

Is é Foghlaim agus Forbairt – OneLearning Ionad Foghlama agus Forbartha na Státseirbhíse. Ó seoladh é i Meán Fómhair 2017, cuireadh oiliúint ar bhreis agus 27,500 duine de lucht freastail in 44 comhlacht Státseirbhíse in 25 contae. Thit breis agus 1,100 seisiún cúrsa amach in 2019 agus d’fhreastail breis agus 12,500 duine.

Cuireadh an Córas Bainistíochta Foghlama (an CBF) chun feidhme i mBealtaine 2019 i 7 gComhlacht Státseirbhíse agus cuireadh chun feidhme é sna comhlachtaí eile go léir i nDeireadh Fómhair 2019. Cuireann sé ar chumas tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar ghníomhaíocht foghlama agus forbartha agus ar rannpháirtíocht i agus caitheamh ar cúrsaí OneLearning ar fud na Státseirbhíse. Tá 67 cúrsa ar fáil faoi láthair, agus tá 8,000 ball foirne cláraithe i seisiúin chúrsa agus tá 9,000 ball i ndiaidh spéis a chláraithe i gcúrsaí éagsúla. Chuir sé borradh faoin bhfáil atá ar chúrsaí rollaithe oscailte, foghlaim roinnte tacaíochta, comhoibriú agus líonrú i measc na gcomhlachtaí státseirbhíse go léir. Cuirfidh sé ar chumas foghlaim dhigiteach freisin (ríomhfhoghlaim, seimineáir ghréasáin, físeáin etc.) agus Clár Scileanna Státseirbhíse a chur i bhfeidhm amach anseo.

Forbairt Céimithe: Ghlac 208 earcaí ar leibhéal Oifigeach Riaracháin (OR) agus Tríú Rúnaí páirt i gClár Forbartha Céimithe sa Státseirbhís Céimí i rith 2019. Cuireann an clár naoi mí idirghníomhach forbartha ar an láthair oibre seo deiseanna foghlama ar fáil maidir le réimse ábhar: stíleanna ceannaireachta; bainistíocht tionscadal; nuálaíocht agus réiteach faidhbe; cuntasaíocht Rialtais; ceapadh beartais fianaisebhunaithe; agus an próiseas reachtach. Bhí teacht ag rannpháirtithe cláir ar cheannairí sinsearacha státseirbhíse agus ar Líonra OCanna.

Leanann Seirbhís Cúnaimh d’Fhostaithe na Státseirbhíse (SCFSS) ag cur le héifeachtacht eagraíochta trí sholáthar réigiúnach seirbhísí a chuireann sláinte agus folláine fostaithe chun cinn, agus a chothaíonn lucht saothair athléimneach. Úsáideann líon measta 14% de státseirbhísigh an tSeirbhís anois gach bliain, agus cuirtear eolas

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agus tacaíocht ar fáil dóibh ón SCFSS maidir le saincheisteanna éagsúla pearsanta agus/nó a bhaineann leis an obair. Tá an t-éileamh atá ar na seirbhísí seo ag dul i méid, agus tháinig méadú 20% orthu ó 2018 go 2019. Príomhghníomhaíocht den SCFSS in 2019 a bhí sa Treoir do Bhainisteoirí Daoine don Státseirbhís a chur chun cinn, agus cuireadh breis agus 30 cur i láthair ar siúl do bhainisteoirí daoine, a d’aimsigh thart ar 540 spriocbhall foirne. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireadh breis agus 200 cur i láthair ar siúl go dtí seo i limistéar na folláine san ionad oibre don fhoireann ar fud na Státseirbhíse.

4.2.2. Lucht Saothair na Todhchaí a Thógáil Díríodh go príomha i rith 2019 ar na córais a neartú atá i bhfeidhm ar fud na Státseirbhíse atá dírithe ar na daoine cearta a bheith ag an Státseirbhís a bhfuil na scileanna cearta acu san áit cheart ag an am ceart, an méid seo a leanas ina measc.

Pleanáil Straitéiseach an Lucht Saothair: I gcomhoibriú le príomhpháirtithe leasmhara, lean an Roinn le páirtithe leasmhara an lucht saothair atá níos dírithe a fhorbairt trí phleananna teimpléid, treoirlínte agus amlínte a dhearadh. Díríodh ní ba mhó freisin ar bhainistíocht sonraí agus forbairt inniúlachta, chun cabhrú le foirne Áitiúla Acmhainní Daonna chun oibriú lena ranna chun na líonta agus na scileanna a phleanáil a theastaíonn ón lucht saothair amach anseo.

Earcaíocht: Shann an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (an SCP) thart ar 6,400 duine thar ceann na Státseirbhíse. Mar chuid de chlár leanúnach chun sruthanna gairmiúla a chruthú agus chun na sainscileanna atá ar fáil a mhéadú, rinne an SCP Anailísithe Beartas Céimithe agus Eacnamaithe (36); Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin (OF) (TFC) (50); Ardoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin (AOF) (TFC) (40); Speisialtóirí Cumarsáide (17) agus Bainisteoirí Cuntas Iníoctha (CI) (Acmhainní Daonna) (18) anuas ar chroíscileanna Státseirbhíse a earcú. Seoladh an chéad scéim printíseachta TFC agus tugadh faoi athbhreithniú ar riachtanais cháilitheachta do chomórtais.

Táthar ag tabhairt faoi Scéim Luaineachta na Státseirbhíse, ar cuireadh tús leis in 2015 i ndiaidh gur seoladh scéim do Phríomhoifigigh (POanna), thar roinnt céimeanna. Go dtí seo, fógraíodh 100 ról PO agus líonadh 58 post go dtí deireadh na Nollag 2019. Cuireadh soghluaisteacht d’Oifigigh Chléireachais agus Oifigigh Feidhmiúcháin chun feidhme go beo i Meán Fómhair 2018 agus chuir thart ar 5,150 ball foirne (25% de na gráid iomlána rannpháirteacha) isteach air agus d’aistrigh breis agus 500 ball foirne ag deireadh na Nollag 2019. Tá a cuid spriocanna á mbaint amach ag an gcéad chéim eile, maidir le gráid AOF, OC agus CI, chun go seolfar é in 2020.

Saineolas Gairmiúil a Neartú laistigh d’Fheidhmeanna Corparáideacha: Lean obair ar aghaidh maidir le saineolas gairmiúil a neartú laistigh de na feidhmeanna Bainistíochta Acmhainní Daonna, Airgeadais agus TFC sa Státseirbhís. Díríodh go príomha ar Shamhail Oibriúcháin Acmhainní Daonna a fhorbairt (féach na sonraí faoi mhír 5.2.4 thíos) agus tabhairt faoi athbhreithniú ar Chreat agus Caighdeáin Ghairm Bheatha Acmhainní Daonna. Faoi mar a luaitear thuas, críochnaíodh obair ar an gclár nua printíseachta TFC, a seoladh go luath in 2019. Maidir le cúrsaí Airgeadais, dréachtaíodh páipéar seasaimh ina bhfuil roinnt moltaí ar na chéad chéimeanna eile chun an fheidhm Airgeadais a ghairmiúlú. Is é an limistéar a ndíreofar air i dtosach ná Measúnú an ECFE ar an gCreat Cuntasaíochta.

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4.2.3. Bainisteoirí a Fhorbairt, Tacú leo agus Luach a

léiriú orthu mar Fhorbróirí Daoine

Lean obair ar aghaidh faoin Straitéis Daoine ar réimse tionscadal a chothaíonn cultúr ina

léirítear luach ar rudaí agus ina bhforbraítear inniúlacht straitéiseach cheannaireachta, dea-

bhainistíocht daoine ar gach leibhéal ina measc. Áirítear leo seo:

Ceannaireacht a Fhorbairt: Soláthraíodh roinnt tionscnaimh shaincheaptha thacaíochta agus forbartha do na ceannairí státseirbhíse is sinsearaí, an méid seo a leanas ina measc: Máistir-Ranganna; Cóitseáil Feidhmiúcháin do bhreis agus 40 ceannaire sinsearach; Cúig imeacht líonraithe sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí Shinsearach (SPS) a dhírigh ar chroídhúshláin atá roimh an Státseirbhís agus a ceannairí: Meantóireacht do Rúnaithe Cúnta a ceapadh le déanaí; agus bainistiú an phróisis Luaineachta Rúnaí Chúnta maidir le 18 bpost. Tosaíodh athbhreithniú ar chlár píolótach Cóitseála na Foirne Bainistíochta, ina raibh trí Roinn páirteach, go déanach in 2019. Anuas air sin, lean obair ar aghaidh chun na ceannairí sinsearacha státseirbhíse sa phíblíne amach anseo a neartú. Chríochnaigh 61 rannpháirtí an dara leagan de na Cláir Forbartha Tallainne sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí Shinsearach agus do POanna agus tugadh faoi mheastóireacht neamhspleách sheachtrach. Bhí torthaí na meastóireachta an-dearfach agus úsáidfear iad chun eolas a chur ar fáil chun cláir 2020 a dhearadh agus a sholáthar.

Bainisteoirí Daoine a Neartú: Tá tionscadal tábhachtach á chur chun cinn ag an Roinn

atá dírithe ar fheabhas a chur ar conas a bhainistímid ár ndaoine. Ag oibriú le

saineolaithe Acmhainní Daonna ar fud an chórais, rinneadh dul chun cinn maith i rith

2019 ar ról an Bhainisteora Daoine a shainiú agus chun sraith méadrachta a fhorbairt

chun measúnú a dhéanamh ar bhainisteoirí sa ról sin.

Faoi mar a luaitear thuas, príomhghníomhaíocht den SCFSS in 2019 a bhí sa Treoir do

Bhainisteoirí Daoine don Státseirbhís a chur chun cinn. Lean an treoir seo (agus an

feachtas oideachais a bhain leis) le tionchar dearfach a imirt i gcaitheamh 2019, fad a

tugadh méaduithe faoi deara ar an úsáid a baineadh as an SCFSS i measc gráid AOF,

CI agus PO.

Oiliúint do bhainisteoirí: Cuireadh 187 cúrsa ar siúl ó phortfóilió OneLearning de

chúrsaí Obair Bhuíne agus Bainistíochta Daoine do bhainisteoirí daoine ar fud na

státseirbhíse in 2019. Ar an iomlán, d’fhreastail 3,833 bainisteoir daoine ar an oiliúint seo

ó tosaíodh na cúrsaí ag deireadh 2017.

Freagracht a chur ar bhainisteoirí: Chun na socruithe chun feidhmíocht a bhainistiú sa Státseirbhís a fheabhsú agus a shimpliú, chuir an Roinn an Bille um Rialáil na Státseirbhíse (Leasú) chun cinn. Cumasóidh é seo feidhmeanna bainistíochta a chur ar bhainisteoirí ar leibhéil éagsúla ar fud na Státseirbhíse.

Sonraí níos fearr do bhainisteoirí: I rith 2019, d’fhorbair an Roinn togra do shraith méadrachta chun tacú le bainisteoirí chun a bhfoireann a bhainistiú.

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4.2.4. Acmhainní Daonna a Shuíomh mar Ábhar

Straitéiseach um Chur chun Cinn Tá obair ar siúl ar roinnt tionscadal lena chinntiú go ndéantar Acmhainní Daonna sa Státseirbhís a oiriúnú agus go bhfreagraíonn sé do na héilimh atá ag teacht chun cinn ón ngnó agus go dtugann sé aghaidh ar na trí thosaíocht straitéiseacha de chuid na Straitéise Daoine.

Tugadh faoi athbhreithniú seachtrach in 2019 a chistigh Coimisiún an AE, dar teideal an tAthbhreithniú ar an tSamhail Oibriúcháin Acmhainní Daonna (SOAD). Thug an t-athbhreithniú le fios go dteastaíonn athruithe radacacha ar an mbealach a oibrítear Acmhainní Daonna sa Státseirbhís le luach ar airgead a chinntiú agus chun tallann agus feidhmíocht an lucht saothair a uasmhéadú. Leagtar amach in Athbhreithniú an SOAD sé mholadh ardleibhéil le haghaidh Acmhainní Daonna mar an mbonn leis an gcéad chéim eile den tionscadal, ina ndéanfar na moltaí seo a dhearadh go mionsonraithe, a thástáil agus a chur i bhfeidhm trí chlár píolótach cruthúnas coincheapa a chuirfear ar siúl i dtrí Roinn in 2020.

Anailísíocht Acmhainní Daonna: Rinne an Roinn infheistíocht shuntasach chun a chéad sraith Anailísíocht Acmhainní Daonna riamh a fhorbairt don státseirbhís chun tacú le cinnteoireacht fhianaisebhunaithe in Acmhainní Daonna. Úsáidfear na sonraí seo mar bhonnlíne chun tairbhí agus tionchair na Straitéise Daoine a thomhas faoi láthair agus amach anseo. Tosaíodh obair bhreise freisin chun sraith anailísíochta a fhorbairt chun tacú le hAcmhainní Daonna ar leibhéal eagraíochta.

Beartais Acmhainní Daonna: Bhí Beartais Nua a bhí dírithe ar fheabhas a chur ar sheirbhísí Acmhainní Daonna á bhforbairt i rith 2019, agus rinneadh dul chun cinn suntasach i limistéar na bainistíochta freastail, an méid seo a leanas ina measc: Bainistiú an Bheartais Freastail; Treoir d’Fhostóirí maidir le Freastal Réasúnta; Treoirlínte maidir le Promhadh; agus Treoir maidir le Dul ar Scor de bharr Drochshláinte.

4.3. Saoire Bhreoiteachta na Seirbhíse Poiblí Rinneadh dul chun cinn suntasach i dtreo athruithe ar scéim Saoire Bhreoiteachta na Seirbhíse Poiblí a chur i bhfeidhm, faoi mar a mhol an Chúirt Oibreachais. Áiríodh leis na hathruithe seo:

Bunráta 37.5% den Luach Saothair Athshlánaithe Shealadaigh (LSAS) a chur i bhfeidhm agus samhail bhreisithe ar fáil ar feadh tréimhse cúig bliana dóibh siúd a bhféadfadh go raibh ráta níos airde den LSAS á íoc leo roimhe seo.

Tréimhse feithimh 3 lá sula gcuirtear LSAS i bhfeidhm faoi chúinsí ina bhfuil na teorainneacha pá iomláin agus leathphá ídithe; agus

Tá an tsaoire bhreoiteachta íoctha go léir, LSAS ina measc, le cur san áireamh sa phróiseas aisamhairc a dtugtar faoi chun rochtain amach anseo a dheimhniú ar shaoire bhreoiteachta íoctha.

Tá a gcuid spriocanna á mbaint amach ag na moltaí seo chun go gcuirfear i bhfeidhm iad in 2020 agus beartaítear go ndéanfaidh siad an scéim a shimpliú agus go méadóidh siad éifeachtúlacht agus comhionannas rochtana ar an scéim ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí.

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5 Athchóiriú na Seirbhíse Poiblí

5.1. Ár Seirbhíse Phoiblí 2020 Cuireadh Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020, an creat le haghaidh fhorbairt agus nuálaíocht na seirbhíse poiblí, i bhfeidhm go hoibríochtúil in 2018 agus forbraíodh é chun an ceanglas Dualgas Seirbhíse Poiblí a chur san áireamh a leagtar amach in alt 42 den Acht fá Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine agus Comhionannas, 2014. Tá 18 ngníomh ann faoi na trí cholún seo a leanas:

Soláthar a dhéanamh dár bPobal;

Nuálú dár dTodhchaí; agus

Ár nDaoine agus ár nEagraíochtaí a Fhorbairt.

Chomh maith le nuálaíocht agus oibriú go comhoibritheach ar fud an Rialtais iomláin, leagtar béim sa chreat ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le soláthar digiteach agus sonraí a úsáid chun éifeachtúlacht níos fearr a bhaint amach. Tá béim láidir ann freisin ar eagraíochtaí agus daoine, agus tá gníomhartha ann i limistéir ar nós acmhainní daonna straitéiseacha, rannpháirtíocht fostaithe, bainistíocht feidhmíochta, agus cultúr agus luachanna, anuas ar dhíriú níos mó ar fhíorathrú agus fíorthorthaí a bhaint amach. Cuirtear sonraí faoi bhallraíocht na foirne gníomhaíochta agus an clár oibre curtha in airde ar láithreán gréasáin ÁSP2020. Anuas ar na sé ghníomh (as na 18 ngníomh) a tosaíodh cheana féin in 2018, tugadh tús áite do shé ghníomh bhreise lena dtabhairt chun cinn i rith 2019, agus lean rannpháirtithe le dea-chleachtas, taithí agus saineolas ar fud na n-earnálacha a roinnt. Seo a leanas na forbairtí a rinneadh faoi na príomhthéamaí irith 2019:

Nuálaíocht i Rialachas: Bunaíodh samhail rialachais nuálach neartaithe in 2018 chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorfheidhmiú na ngníomhartha in Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020 Is éard a bhaineann leis seo ná Bord Ceannaireachta Seirbhíse Poiblí (BCSP), ina roghnaítear rannpháirtíocht leibhéal an Ard-Rúnaí/an POF ó Bhord Bainistíochta na Státseirbhíse agus ina roghnaítear ionadaithe ó réimse fairsing eagraíochtaí Seirbhíse Poiblí. Chas an Bord seo le chéile trí huaire in 2019. Tacaítear leis an nGrúpa Bainistíochta na Seirbhíse Poiblí an (BCSP), ar a uain sin, trí Rúnaithe Cúnta agus trína chomhionann de rannpháirtíocht ó limistéir ar fud na Státseirbhíse agus na Seirbhíse Poiblí. Chas an Bord seo le chéile trí huaire in 2019 freisin.

Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar Ár Seirbhíse Phoiblí 2020: Foilsíodh an chéad Tuarascáil ar Dhul chun Cinn Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020. Forbraíodh agus cuireadh sonraí freisin i mbunachar sonraí d’athchóirithe a bhfuiltear ag tabhairt fúthu ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí faoi ÁSP 2020. Cuireadh tús le hobair chun táscairí a shainaithint a bhaineann leis na 3 Cholún de Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020

Nuálaíocht a Chur chun Cinn: Tá in Ár Seirbhís Poiblí 2020 roinnt tionscnamh a dhéanann cultúr nuálaíochta a chur chun cinn ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí. Rinneadh an dul chun cinn seo a leanas in 2019:

Tugadh cleachtóirí nuálaíochta ar iasacht le hOifig Athchóirithe na Roinne ó limistéir éagsúla den tSeirbhís Phoiblí chun tacú le fostaithe sa tseirbhís phoiblí chun nuálaíocht a chur chun cinn ina n-eagraíochtaí;

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Tugadh faomhadh d’Oifig Athchóirithe na Seirbhíse Poiblí do chistiú faoi Chlár Seirbhís Tacaíochta um Athchóiriú Struchtúrach an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh chun straitéis nuálaíochta seirbhíse poiblí a fhorbairt, creat scileanna a chruthú do nuálaíocht seirbhíse poiblí agus chun nuálaíocht a dhearadh i bhfoghlaim ceannaireachta agus in idirghabháil forbartha;

Chláraigh 43 eagraíocht le Dearbhú na hÉireann um nuálaíocht seirbhíse phoiblí a forbraíodh bunaithe ar dhearbhú an ECFE, agus a rinneadh a shaincheapadh d’Éirinn;

Bunaíodh an Líonra Nuálaíochta sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí i Meán Fómhair 2019 agus tá ballraíocht breis agus 430 fostaí ann ó na hearnálacha go léir;

Seoladh Ciste Nuálaíochta sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí, agus cuireadh cistiú arbh ionann é agus breis agus €500,000, ar an iomlán, ar fáil do 18 dtionscadal éagsúla;

Cuireadh an chéad seachtain nuálaíochta ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí ar siúl i mí na Nollag, áit ar fhiosraigh foirne an nuálaíocht, ar oibrigh siad as lámh a chéile maidir le smaointe agus ar ghlac siad páirt i mbreis agus 200 imeacht agus gníomhaíocht fud fad na tíre. D’fhreastail breis agus 600 duine ar an gComhdháil Nuálaíochta a cuireadh ar bun i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath Cén, inar labhair breis agus 20 cainteoir agus ina ndearnadh sárthaispeántas de shamplaí iontacha den nuálaíocht inár seirbhís phoiblí. Anuas air sin, ghlac 500 duine páirt i gceardlanna nuálaíochta, ar a dtugtar Ranganna Luais (‘Faster Classes’);

Forbraíodh Nuachtlitir Nuálaíochta don tSeirbhís Phoiblí agus eisíodh í chun imeachtaí agus deiseanna d’fhostaithe sa tseirbhís phoiblí a chur chun cinn;

D’fhorbair an Oifig Athchóirithe agus an Institiúid um Riarachán Poiblí Dioplóma Gairmiúil sa Nuálaíocht sa tSeirbhís Nuálaíocht. Táthar le glacadh leis na chéad iarratasóirí i Márta 2020. De bhreis air sin, thug breis agus 140 bainisteoir seirbhíse poiblí ó limistéir ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí trína chéile faoi chúrsa 2 lá ‘Bunriachtanais na Nuálaíochta’. Forbraíodh sraith eile d’idirghabháil freisin a thabharfar isteach i rith 2020; agus

D’oibrigh Oifig Athchóirithe na Seirbhíse Poiblí as lámh le hOifig Phríomh-Oifigeach Faisnéise an Rialtais chun Cruinniú Govtech a chur le chéile agus chun plean gníomhaíochta a fhorbairt chun GovTech a bhunú in Éirinn.

An tSuirbhé ar Shásamh Ginearálta Custaiméirí na Státseirbhíse: Tugadh faoin

ochtú sraith suirbhéanna sa bhliain 2019 (ó 1997) ar an bpobal i gcoitinne faoinar thug cuideachta neamhspleách taighde ar thuairimí thar ceann na Roinne chun leibhéil sásaimh a dheimhniú le seirbhísí a chuir ranna na státseirbhíse agus oifigí móra ar fáil. Ba iad na leibhéil sásaimh, ar an iomlán, i gcás soláthar seirbhíse agus an toraidh i suirbhé 2019 na leibhéil ab airde a cuireadh i gcuntas go dtí seo:

Bhí 85% de chustaiméirí sásta leis an tseirbhís a cuireadh ar fáil dóibh (aníos ó 83% in 2017 agus 76% in 2015) agus leis an toradh a bhí ar an teagmháil is déanaí a rinne siad leis an Státseirbhís (aníos ó 82% in 2017 agus 76% in 2015).

thug 89% de chustaiméirí le fios go bhfuil leibhéil seirbhíse a fheabhas agus a mbíonn súil acu leo nó níos fearr ná mar a mbíonn súil acu leo, den chuid is mó, (aníos ó 87% in 2017 agus 83% in 2015).

Seirbhís Ardchaighdeáin do Chustaiméirí: Rinne an Líonra Seirbhís Ardchaighdeáin do Chustaiméirí (an LSAC) a fhairsingiú agus cuimsítear an tSeirbhís Phoiblí i gcoitinne anois ann mar chuid de ÁSP2020, agus rinne seo a bhallraíocht i measc na n-earnálacha go léir a mhéadú. Cuimsítear sa tSraith Uirlisí Cumarsáide le Custaiméirí don tSeirbhís Phoiblí treoir maidir le prionsabail ghinearálta stíl scríbhneoireachta, cumarsáid ó bhéal agus neamhbhriathartha, foirmeacha agus cáipéisí a dhearadh, ábhar gréasáin agus meán sóisialta agus conas comharthaíocht a thaispeáint. Rinne

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an Oifig Athchóirithe agus Seachadta é seo a athbhreithniú agus a leasú i rith 2019 i gcomhoibriú leis an Ionad Sármhaitheasa i nDearadh Uilíoch agus tá fáil air ar láithreán gréasáin ÁSP2020.

I measc na mbunspriocanna inghnóthaithe eile in 2019 faoi na ceithre théama ghníomhacha sa Colún Ár nDaoine agus ár nEagraíochtaí a Fhorbairt de chuid ÁSP 2020 bhí: bunaíodh Líonra Bainisteoirí Acmhainní Daonna straitéiseach chun na tionscnaimh daoine a chur chun cinn a tháinig chun solais faoi Cholún 3; Forbairt leanúnach agus Ghairmiúil, Pleanáil Straitéiseach an Lucht Saothair, agus Comhionannas, Éagsúlacht agus Ionchuimsiú.

Foilsíodh Páipéar Taighde ar Phleanáil Straitéiseach an Lucht Saothair i Seirbhís Phoiblí na hÉireann, a choimisiúnaigh an Foras Riaracháin (an FR) agus bunaíodh Foireann Gníomhaíochta Trasearnála chun tionscnaimh i gcomhionannas, éagsúlacht agus ionchuimsiú a chur chun cinn. Cuireadh Comhdháil Éagsúlachta agus Nuálaíochta ar bun i nDeireadh Fómhair 2019, inar ghlac 250 Ceannaire Seirbhíse Poiblí páirt.

Uathoibriú Róbatach Próiseas: D’oibrigh an Roinn i gcomhar leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais (an OSR) chun creat-chomhaontú le haghaidh Uathoibriú Róbatach Próiseas (URP) a fhoilsiú. Cuireann an creat seo ar chumas na gcomhlachtaí seirbhíse poiblí go léir chun seirbhísí URP a tharraingt anuas ó sholáthraí lena gcomhaontaítear, a dhéanfaidh go leor ama agus airgid a shábháil do chomhlachtaí Seirbhíse Poiblí nuair a bhíonn URP á fhiosrú agus á chur i bhfeidhm acu. Príomhghné den chreat-chomhaontú is ea go gcumasóidh sé scileanna URP a aistriú ón soláthraí go dtí an comhlacht seirbhíse poiblí chun gur féidir leis éirí go hiomlán inniúil sa teicneolaíocht seo atá ag teacht chun cinn. Chabhraigh an Roinn freisin le FSS chun a chéad chlár píolótach a fhorbairt maidir le URP a thabhairt isteach, agus tá súil leis go gcuirfear tús le hoibríochtaí in 2020. Mar chuid de na hoibleagáidí leanúnacha atá uirthi chun uasoiliúint a chur ar fhostaithe sa tseirbhís phoiblí maidir le samhlacha eile de sholáthar seirbhíse, chuir an Roinn roinnt seisiúin faisnéise ar bun d’fhostaithe sa tseirbhís phoiblí maidir le URP. Tá RPA ar bun go hoibríochtúil anois in ar a laghad seacht gcomhlacht seirbhíse poiblí agus tá idir fhiosrú agus tástáil á ndéanamh air i roinnt comhlachtaí eile.

Benefacts: Chuir an Roinn cúnamh deontais ar fáil do Benefacts, fiontar neamhbhrabúis sóisialta a bunaíodh chun obair agus cistiú na hearnála neamhbhrabúis in Éirinn a dhéanamh níos trédhearcaí. Cuirtear saor-rochtain phoiblí ar fáil ar bhunachar sonraí ar líne Benefacts ar shonraí rialála, airgeadais agus rialachais faoi 30,000 eagraíocht, ina sonraí ina measc faoi gach carthanas cláraithe agus na mílte eagraíocht eile neamhbhrabúis, ar nós institiúidí oideachais, fiontair shóisialta agus comhlachtaí spóirt agus gairmiúla. Cuirtear na sonraí ar fáil freisin i bhformáidí oscailte ar Thairseach Shonraí Oscailte an Rialtais, áit ar féidir teacht ar na sonraí saor in aisce.

5.2. Oscailteacht, Trédhearcacht agus Cuntasacht Rinne an Roinn a chlár athchóirithe, atá dírithe ar rialtas oscailte, cuntasach agus eiticiúil a sholáthar, a chur chun cinn níos mó. Tugadh faoi na príomhthionscnaimh seo a leanas:

Tionscnamh í an Chomhpháirtíocht um Rialtas Oscailte (an CRO) ina nglacann breis agus 70 tír páirt a bhfuil de chuspóir aige gealltanais dhaingne a bhaint amach ó rialtais chun trédhearcacht a chur chun cinn, saoránaigh a chumasú, cur in aghaidh

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caimiléireachta, agus teicneolaíochtaí nua a shaothrú chun rialachas a threisiú. Tá sé á reáchtáil ag coiste stiúrtha ina bhfuil eagraíochtaí rialtais agus sochaí sibhialta. Cuimsítear i dTuarascáil Féinmheasúnaithe Deireadh Téarma na hÉireann ar Phlean Gníomhaíochta Náisiúnta 2016-2018 an CRO tuarascálacha mionsonraithe ar gach ceann de na 15 ghealltanas sa phlean a chur i bhfeidhm. Rinne an Roinn idichaidreamh i rith 2019 le Cumann Rialtais Oscailte na hÉireann (‘Open Government Association Ireland’), a bunaíodh le déanaí, chun próiseas níos éifeachtaí a dhearadh chun chéad Phlean Gníomhaíochta Náisiúnta eile na hÉireann a chruthú agus a chur i bhfeidhm.

Sonraí Oscailte: Leanann an Roinn a bheith ceannródaíoch maidir le Sonraí Oscailte i ndiaidh gur éirigh le hÉirinn an chéad áit a choimeád i suirbhé ar Aibíocht Sonraí Oscailte an AE in 2019 don tríú bliain i ndiaidh a chéile. Chuir Éire feabhas freisin ar a rangú i dtaobh Sonraí Oscailte aníos go dtí an tríú háit san ECFE. Baineadh é seo amach tríd an Straitéis náisiúnta Sonraí Oscailte 2017-2022 a chur i bhfeidhm go leanúnach.

Bhí nasc sa Tairseach Sonraí Oscailte náisiúnta le 9,500 tacar sonraí ó bhreis agus 100 foilsitheoir agus cuireadh oiliúint ar shonraí oscailte ar 595 fostaí sa tseirbhís phoiblí ag deireadh 2019. Chuir Ciste Rannpháirtíochta na Sonraí Oscailte 2019/2020, a chuireann an úsáid a bhaintear as tacair shonraí chun cinn ar an tairseach sonraí oscailte, cistiú iomlán €40,000 ar fáil do 10 dtionscadal rathúla. Ghlac an Roinn páirt i roinnt seimineár agus comhdhálacha i rith na bliana chun scaoileadh sonraí rialtais ag comhlachtaí poiblí agus sonraí oscailte a athúsáid i measc Fiontair Bheaga agus Mheánmhéide (FBManna), an tsaoil acadúil, na meán agus saoránach ar chuspóirí sóisialta agus geilleagracha a chur chun cinn. D’eagraigh an Roinn Comhdháil Sonraí Oscailte freisin i mBaile Átha Cliath i Samhain 2019 inar pléadh an téama ‘Dúshláin agus Deiseanna Sonraí Oscailte’ agus d’fhreastail breis agus 130 toscaire uirthi. Comhoibríonn an Roinn le contrapháirteanna sonraí oscailte i mBallstáit eile agus d’éascaigh sí cuairteanna a thug an Pholainn agus Tuaisceart Éireann i rith 2019. Déanfaidh an Treoir maidir le Sonraí Oscailte agus Faisnéis na hEarnála Poiblí, a d’eagraigh an Roinn in 2019, borradh breise a chur faoi shonraí a scaoileadh i bhformáidí oscailte, trí chomhéadain feidhmchláir (CFanna) agus gan chostas.

5.3. Bearta Reachtaíochta agus Rialachais Phoiblí Rinneadh na príomhthionscnaimh reachtaíochta agus rialachais phoiblí seo a leanas a thabhairt chun cinn:

Saoráil Faisnéise (SF): Leanann an Láraonad Beartais (an LAB) maidir le SF ag an Roinn ag tacú le cur i bhfeidhm agus forbairt beartais maidir leis an gcóras SF. Áirítear leis seo tacaíocht agus comhairle a chur ar fáil ar an nguthán agus ar ríomhphost tríd an deasc chabhrach SF do pháirtithe leasmhara, saoránaigh, gnólachtaí, iriseoirí agus acadóirí, chomh maith le 600 comhlacht SF ina measc. Rinne an LAB cathaoirleacht freisin ar 8 gcruinniú an Líonra SF, chuir sé seisiúin cheardlainne ar siúl ag ionaid ar fud na tíre, rinne sé cur i láthair ag roinnt comhdhálacha agus imeachtaí oiliúna eile, d’fhorbair sé treoirlínte nua agus rinne sé ábhar ar láithreán gréasáin foi.gov.ie a chothabháil agus a nuashonrú.

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Nochtadh Cosanta: Leanann an Roinn ag tacú le cur i bhfeidhm agus forbairt beartais maidir le hoibriú an Achta um Nochtadh Cosanta, 2014, a sholáthraíonn córas aonair uileghabhálach agus atá infheidhme go ginearálta chun oibrithe a chosaint a nochtann éagóir san ionad oibre. Bhí baint aici i rith 2019 le hidirbheartaíocht maidir le tograí le haghaidh Treorach ón AE maidir le sceithirí a chosaint, agus glacadh téacs deiridh an togra sin (Treoir 2019/1937 ón AE) an 23 Deireadh Fómhair. Chuir an Roinn tús le hobair ullmhúcháin chun an Treoir a thrasuí. Thacaigh líonra idir-rannach, a bunaíodh in 2018, leis an Roinn maidir leis seo, agus chas an líonra seo ar a chéile trí huaire in 2019.

Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí: Síníodh an tAcht um Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí, a thug an Roinn tríd an Oireachtas, isteach sa dlí an 4 Márta 2019. Cuireann sé creat reachtúil ar fáil chun roinnt sonraí a chur chun cinn agus a spreagadh idir comhlachtaí poiblí le haghaidh cuspóirí dlisteanacha agus a shonraítear go soiléir a chomhlíonaann an dlí um chosaint sonraí. Cuireadh tús le dhá chuid den Acht in Aibreán: Cuid 5, a bhaineann le faisnéise seirbhíse poiblí a roinnt; agus Cuid 6, a bhaineann le hAitheantóirí Uathúla Gnó a chruthú. Cuireadh obair ullmhúcháin ar thús a chur leis na codanna eile – go háirithe Bord Rialachais Sonraí a bhunú – chun cinn i rith na bliana agus cuireadh roinnt ceardlann le príomhchomhlachtaí seirbhíse poiblí ar bun in 2019.

Brústocaireacht a Rialáil: Bunaítear clár gréasánbhunaithe san tAcht um Brústocaireacht a Rialáil, 2015 de ghníomhaíocht bhrústocaireachta chun trédhearcacht chuí a sholáthar maidir le “cén daoine a bhfuil teagmháil á déanamh acu le daoine agus ábhar na teagmhála sin”. Tá ar bhrústocairí clárú agus tuairisceáin a dhéanamh leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí (an Coimisiún) má thugann siad faoi ghníomhaíochtaí brústocaireachta, agus tá orthu tuairisceáin a sheoladh ar aghaidh gach 4 mhí. Seoladh thart ar 40,000 tuairisceán chuig an gclár agus chláraigh thart ar 1,950 duine agus eagraíocht ar an gclár. Ceanglaítear san Acht go ndéantar athbhreithniú go tréimhsiúil ar a fhorálacha. Seoladh an dara próiseas athbhreithnithe reachtúil an 12 Aibreán 2019 agus críochnaíodh é an 10 Bealtaine. Foilsíodh tuarascáil an athbhreithnithe i bhFeabhra 2020. Rinne an Roinn rialachán (I.R. 144/2019) a chur chun cinn faoin Acht chun an liosta d’Oifigigh Ainmnithe Phoiblí a leasú maidir le hOifig na nOibreacha Poiblí.

Eitic: Lean an Roinn ag freastal ar chruinnithe an Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe, ar a ndéanann James Hamilton cathaoirleacht, a bhfuil athbhreithniú á dhéanamh aige ar na struchtúir cheartais choiriúil chun coireacht agus caimiléireacht gheilleagrach a chomhrac. Cuirfidh an Grúpa Athbhreithnithe a thuarascáil faoi bhráid an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais in 2020.

Chuir an Roinn aiseolas ar fáil freisin don Choimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí maidir le an Fógra Faisnéise ón gCoimisiún maidir le ‘Bronntanais a thabhairt do Shealbhóirí Oifige'. Ceapadh Cathaoirleach nua leis an mBord um Cheapacháin Sheachtracha i rith 2019. Cuireann an Bord iniúchadh neamhspleách ar fáil ar cheapacháin iarfhostaíochta i measc státseirbhísigh agus comhairleoirí áirithe a fhostaítear laistigh de bhliain amháin i ndiaidh éirí as an obair nó dul ar scor ón Státseirbhís.

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Ritheadh an Bille um Chaighdeáin san Earnáil Phoiblí, 2015, a bhí á thabhairt chun cinn ag an Roinn i rith 2019, i bhFeabhra 2020 ar dhíscaoileadh an 32ú Dáil.

Idirchaidreamh le hEagraíochtaí Idirnáisiúnta: Sholáthair an Roinn ábhar do thuarascáil iomlán Tíre na hÉireann ar chur i bhfeidhm Chaibidlí II (Bearta Coisctheacha) agus V (Aisghabháil Sócmhainní) de Choinbhinsiún na Náisiún Aontaithe in aghaidh an Éillithe (UNCAC).

Sholáthair sí ábhartha i Meán Fómhair 2019 do thuarascáil chomhlíonta eatramhach Ceathrú Babhta na hÉireann do GRECO (Grúpa Stát i gcoinne na hÉillitheachta Chomhairle na hEorpa) maidir leis na moltaí a rabhthas le dul i ngleic leo go fóill Meastóireacht Ceathrú Babhta a rinneadh ar Éirinn. Pléifear an tuarascáil chomhlíonta eatramhach ag cruinniú iomlánach GRECO i Márta 2020. Sholáthair an Roinn ábhar freisin do cheistneoir measúnaithe Cúig Babhta GRECO in 2019. Seo an chéad chéim sa phróiseas measúnaithe agus tabharfaidh an fhoireann mheasúnaithe cuairt ar an láthair ina dhiaidh seo ar Éirinn in Aibreán 2020. Tá an measúnú dírithe ar chosc a chur ar chaimiléireacht agus a iomláine sa rialtas láir (feidhmeanna na feidhmeannachta uachtaraí) agus i ngníomhaireachtaí forfheidhmithe dlí a chur chun cinn.

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6 Rialtas Digiteach

6.1. Oifig Phríomh-Oifigeach Faisnéise an Rialtais

(OPOFR) Tá sainchúram fairsing agus ilchineálach ag Oifig Phríomh-Oifigeach Faisnéise an Rialtais (OPOFR), a n-áirítear an méid seo a leanas leis:

soláthar seirbhíse TFC;

maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar chaiteachas a bhaineann le TFC ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí; agus

beartas teicneolaíochta don Rialtas, nuair a bhaineann seo le tionscnaimh AE ina measc, cosúil leis an bPlean Gníomhaíochta Ríomhsheirbhísí, Clár ISA2, Rialacháin an Phointe Rochtana Aonair Dhigitigh agus eIDAS.

Stiúrann OPOFR réimse straitéisí a chur i bhfeidhm, ar nós an mhéid seo a leanas: Straitéis TFC na Seirbhíse Poiblí; Straitéis Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais 2017-2020; Gníomh 1 a chur i bhfeidhm (Soláthar Digiteach Seirbhísí a Luathú) de Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020 chun tacú le forbairt agus nuálaíocht leanúnach ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí; agus Straitéis Sonraí na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2019-2023. Chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar a sainchúram:

Comhoibríonn OPOFR le ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí rialtais ar fud na Státseirbhíse agus na Seirbhíse Poiblí chun dlús a chur le clár claochlaithe an Rialtais. Glacann sé le ról ceannaireachta sa soláthar seirbhíse digiteach agus i dtionscnaimh nuálaíochta ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí; déanann sé maoirseacht ar chaiteachas a bhaineann le TFC a dhéanann Ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí;, agus déanann sé ionadaíocht d’Éirinn ar leibhéal an AE maidir le TFC seirbhíse poiblí, seirbhísí digiteacha agus ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais, agus ag grúpaí oibre POF Rialtais agus i bhfóraim in eagraíochtaí eile iltaobhacha.

Is é OPOFR an rannán atá freagrach as seirbhísí TFC a sholáthar sa Roinn. Déanann Coiste Rialachais na Roinne maoirseacht agus stiúradh ar fhorbairtí TFC agus soláthar seirbhíse don Roinn i gcomhthéacs an Chreata Rialachais TFC.

Tá OPOFR freagrach as Cláir Straitéiseacha TFC agus Cláir um Chlaochlú Digiteach a thabhairt isteach. Glacann sé le ról ceannaireachta ar fud na Státseirbhíse

agus na Seirbhíse Poiblí chun cur i bhfeidhm chlár athchóirithe an Rialtais a chur chun cinn maidir le TFC agus soláthar digiteach.

6.2. Príomhéachtaí Straitéis TFC na Seirbhíse Poiblí in

2019 D’eascair an Plean Gníomhaíochta 18 gCéim do Straitéis TFC na Seirbhíse Poiblí as comhoibriú idir POF an Rialtais agus POFanna roinne agus Cinn TFC. Lorgaíonn sé chun cúig théama straitéiseacha na straitéise a thabhairt chun cinn: Tógáil le Roinnt (Build to Share), Tús Áite do Chúrsaí Digiteacha, Sonraí mar Chumasóir, Feabhas a chur ar

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Rialachas agus Cumas a Mhéadú. Leagtar sonraí amach thíos faoin dul chun cinn a rinneadh faoi gach colún.

6.2.1. Tógáil le Roinnt Lorgaíonn an colún Tógáil le Roinnt chun aistriú go dtí samhail roinnte i dtaobh soláthar seirbhíse TFC, chun tacú le comhtháthú agus roinnt acmhainní ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí níos fairsinge agus éifeachtúlacht á cur chun cinn agus costais á rialú i gcomhthráth. Tá roinnt foirmeacha i gceist leis an tsraith Tógáil le Roinnt (TLR) agus tá bunachar cliant an-fhairsing d’eagraíochtaí aige cheana féin a bhfuil cuid den chatalóg sheirbhísí TLR, nó gach ceann díobh, á gcur ar fáil dóibh.

Cuireann Líonraí Rialtais Tógáil le Roinnt seirbhísí cost-éifeachtúla, athléimneacha, ar ghrád iompróra, líonra ardluais ar fáil le haghaidh gutha, físeáin, agus sonraí, do gach comhlacht seirbhíse poiblí agus cumasaíonn sé nascacht idirghníomhaireachta. Tá teacht anois ag comhlachtaí seirbhíse poiblí in thart ar 70 baile agus cathair timpeall na tíre ar nascacht ardluais athléimneach líonra agus tá de bhreis ar 800 nód sa nascacht faoi láthair a tugadh isteach, a lean ar aghaidh ar fud na tíre i rith na bliana. Tá roinnt gníomhaireachtaí ag baint úsáide anois as seirbhís bhainistithe Líonra Achair Logánta (LAN) a chuirtear ar fáil do Chomhlachtaí Seirbhíse Poiblí (CSPanna) agus a tosaíodh in 2018. Tá an glacadh le bonneagar roinnt Wi-Fi, a cheadaíonn do CSPanna chun líonraí slána corparáideacha agus aoi a imlonnú i roinnt láithreacha lena laghad infheistíochta a dhéanamh i mbonneagar, imithe i méid agus tá úsáid á baint ag breis agus deich ngníomhaireacht as agus tá cruthúnais choincheapa ar siúl ag roinnt gníomhaireachtaí eile. Imlonnaíodh bonneagar nua Teileafónaíochta IP go lárnach agus i mbreis agus 40 CSP, a d’éascaigh glaonna gutháin athléimneacha ar ísealchostas a chur ar fud an Rialtais.

Cuireann Feidhmchláir Tógáil le Roinnt sraith feidhmchláir tacaíochta corparáidí atá mar an gcéanna i measc comhlachtaí rialtais. Tá clár leanúnach um thabhairt isteach ar bun chun na feidhmchláir seo a chur i bhfeidhm ar fud Ranna a leanfaidh ar aghaidh, ar bhonn céimnithe, tríd an mbliain 2020 agus ina dhiaidh sin. Tá an t-ardán roinnte tugtha isteach faoi láthair i measc 40 comhlacht poiblí, agus ghlac gach ceann díobh le ar a laghad feidhmchlár amháin ón tsraith feidhmchlár, agus tugadh breis agus 100 leagan de na feidhmchláir seo isteach, ar an iomlán. Cuireadh roinnt feidhmchláir nua leis an tsraith i rith na bliana, córas deasc chabhrach roinnte nua agus córas clár rioscaí nua ina measc.

Cuireann Deasc Bhainistithe Tógáil le Roinnt an réimse caighdeánach de ghnáthsheirbhísí TFC úsáideora deiridh do chomhlachtaí poiblí. Áirítear leo seo Ríomhairí Pearsanta, ríomhairí glúine, gléasanna hibrideacha/táibléid, sraith táirgiúlachta oifige, ríomhphost, clódóireacht bhainistithe, físchomhdháil, líonra áitiúil, rochtain idirlín, seirbhísí gutháin agus seirbhísí tacaíochta deasc freastail chomh maith leis an mbonneagar óstála fothaca agus na seirbhísí cibearshlándála gaolmhara. Rinneadh seirbhísí Deisce Bainistithe TLR isteach in eagraíochtaí breise i rith 2019, an Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige, an Chomhairle Náisiúnta um Oideachas Speisialta agus i mBunaíocht an Uachtaráin. Cuireann OPOFR croísheirbhísí deisce TFC chorparáidigh ar fáil anois do bhreis agus 3,000 úsáideoir in naoi n-eagraíocht atá leata thar bhreis agus 30 láthair ar fud na tíre. Tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ag pleananna chun seirbhísí deisce a thabhairt isteach i Ranna Rialtais/ Oifigí breise i rith 2020.

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Tá ardán bonneagar Néal Rialtais phríobháidigh á sholáthar ag Néal Rialtais Phríobháidigh Tógáil le Roinnt atá roinnte, daingean agus athléimneach. Tá an tInfreastruchtúr mar Sheirbhís seo (IaaS) ar fáil le haghaidh óstáil córais/ feidhmchláir do gach Comhlacht Poiblí. Tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ag pleananna chun iarratais bhreise a thabhairt isteach i Ranna/Oifigí Rialtais breise i rith 2020.

Cruthaíonn Ionad Sonraí Rialtais Tógáil le Roinnt deis bhreise chun bonneagar a

roinnt a chuireann ar chumas comhlachtaí seirbhíse poiblí chun a mbonneagar TFC a

aimsiú i saoráid a tógadh le sainchuspóir faoi úinéireacht an Rialtais agus á reáchtáil ag

an Rialtas. Tá céim an dearaidh críochnaithe agus faomhadh an t-iarratas pleanála, a

cuireadh faoi bhráid Chomhairle Contae Chill Dara, in 2019 le roinnt coinníollacha.

Éistfear leis an achomharc a rinneadh ar dhá cheann de na coinníollacha don phleanáil,

a seoladh ar aghaidh go déanach in 2019, in 2020.

6.2.2. Tús Áite do Chúrsaí Digiteacha Bunaíodh foghrúpa Ceannairí Digiteacha Bhord Bainistíochta na Státseirbhíse in 2019 chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar agus dlús a chur le claochlú digiteach ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí. De bhun obair an ghrúpa seo, rinne an Rialtas comhaontú ar chlár claochlaithe dhigitigh a dtugtar tús áite dó agus bunaíodh Clár Digiteach, a chuimsíonn gach comhlacht poiblí. Leanfaidh an Grúpa Ceannairí Digiteacha, a tugadh isteach i ngach earnáil, le monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar chlaochlú digiteach agus é a thabhairt chun cinn isteach in 2020. Lean OPOFR le sócmhainní roinnte digiteacha a fhorbairt agus a chur chun cinn a fheabhsaíonn comhsheasmhacht agus éifeachtúlachtaí i soláthar tosaigh agus cúil seirbhísí poiblí. I measc na dtionscnamh, tá glacadh méadaithe le MyGovId, meicníocht choiteann fíordheimhnithe ar líne atá le húsáid ag comhlachtaí poiblí a bhaineann 475,000 cuntas deimhnithe amach; rinne tairseach gov.ie, a chuireann tosach aontaithe agus comhsheasmhach ar fáil do sheirbhísí faisnéise an rialtais, ocht láithreán gréasáin Roinn Rialtais a chónascadh i rith 2019 agus tá de chuspóir aige na cinn eile a chuimsiú faoi dheireadh 2020; agus rinneadh próiseas Sheirbhís ar Líne na gCoimisinéirí Ioncaim (ROS) chun gnó a fhíordheimhniú ar líne a chumasú go mbainfidh comhlachtaí poiblí, seachas na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim, athúsáid as trí leasú reachtaíochta a rinneadh le déanaí.

6.2.3. Sonraí mar Chumasóir Tá de chuspóir ag Straitéis Sonraí na Seirbhíse Poiblí, a foilsíodh i mí na Nollag 2018, chun sraith beart a chur i bhfeidhm chun feabhas a chur ar conas a rialaítear, a bhainistítear agus a athúsáidtear sonraí ar bhealach slán, éifeachtúil agus trédhearcach ar mhaithe le saoránaigh, gnólachtaí agus an lucht déanta beartas. Chuir OPOFR sraith ceardlanna idir-rannacha ar siúl i rith 2019 chun plean soláthair acmhainní agus feidhmithe chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorghníomhú ghníomhartha na straitéise sonraí sna blianta amach romhainn. Tugadh faoi obair ar roinnt príomhghníomhartha laistigh den straitéis, achtú an Achta um Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí, 2019, agus seirbhís Bhosca Poist Dhigitigh a fhorbairt. Tosófar obair in 2020 chun an tseirbhís Bhosca Poist Dhigitigh, rogha shlán dhigiteach ar litreacha a bheith á seoladh ag comhlachtaí poiblí.

6.2.4. Feabhas a chur ar Rialachas Leanann OPOFR ag oibriú le ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí chun cur i bhfeidhm an chláir TFC agus straitéisí agus tionscnaimh chlaochlaithe dhigitigh ar fud an Rialtais a chur i bhfeidhm. Leanann an Bord Comhairleach TFC, a thuairiscíonn le Bord Bainistíochta na

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Státseirbhíse (BBSS) trí POF an Rialtais, ag casadh ar a chéile go rialta chun páirt a ghlacadh sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta 18 gCéim a sholáthar agus maoirseacht a dhéanamh air. Mar cheannaire le haghaidh Ghníomh 1 de Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020, Soláthar Digiteach Seirbhísí a Luathú, déanann an Rialtas idirchaidreamh rialta chun idirphlé agus smaointe a roinnt agus cláir a chur i bhfeidhm a spreagadh idir an rialtas láir agus áitiúil, an Garda Síochána agus na hearnálacha sláinte agus oideachais.

6.2.5. Acmhainn Mhéadaithe Rinneadh dul chun cinn maith i mbliana maidir leis an Straitéis um Ghairmiúlú Acmhainní Daonna TFC a chur i bhfeidhm, atá in ainm is a chinntiú go bhfuil an meascán ceart scileanna, eolais agus saineolais ar fáil ag an Státseirbhís go hinmheánach chun seirbhísí éifeachtacha rialtais dhigitigh a sholáthar do shaoránaigh, gnólachtaí agus státseirbhísigh. Tá roinnt gníomhartha á gcur chun cinn ag an nGrúpa Oibre Acmhainní Daonna TFC, ar foghrúpa é den Bhord Comhairleach TFC, chun an cnámh droma gairm bheatha a chur i bhfeidhm le haghaidh TFC, a dtacaíonn na bearta cuí earcaíochta, coinneála agus luaineachta leis, anuas ar chreat forbartha scileanna agus sraith idirghabháil foghlama leis. I measc rudaí eile, thit sraith nua d’fheachtais choiteanna earcaíochta amach a bhain le TFC i rith 2019. Anuas air sin, cuireadh tús leis an gclár píolótach Printíseach Speisialtóir TFC. Scéim dhá bhliain tuill mar a fhoghlaimítear í seo i gcomhar le FastTrack to IT (FIT), an soláthraí náisiúnta comhordaithe le haghaidh Printíseachtaí Teicneolaíochta in TFC, a lorgaíonn chun teacht i dtír ar thallann nua ionchasach le haghaidh TFC sa Státseirbhís. Thosaigh 34 Speisialtóir TFC Printísigh a gclár dhá bhliain clár in Aibreán 2019 agus bhain siad fostaíocht amach le 11 fhostóir sa Státseirbhís.

6.3. Straitéis Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais 2017-2020 Bunatacaíonn tiomantas an Rialtais do bheith oscailte, solúbtha ag comhoibritheach lenár saoránaigh agus gnólachtaí, trí dhigitiú agus an teicneolaíocht a úsáid chun éifeachtúlacht agus éifeachtacht a mhéadú agus chun feabhas seasmhach a chur ar sheirbhísí poiblí, le Straitéis Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais 2017-2020. Buntacaíonn roinnt príomhphrionsabal leis, atá ailínithe le Plean Gníomhaíochta Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais an AE 2016-2020, a chuirfidh a chur i bhfeidhm chun cinn. Is iad seo: Digiteach mar Réamhshocrú (‘Digital By Default’); An Prionsabal Uair Amháin (‘Once Only’); Ionchuimsitheacht agus Inrochtaineacht; Oscailteacht agus Trédhearcacht; Trasteorann mar Réamhshocrú; Idir-Inoibritheacht mar Réamhshocrú; agus Iontaofacht agus Slándáil. Leantar le dul chun cinn a dhéanamh maidir le gach ceann de 10 bpríomhghníomh na straitéise a sholáthar i gcomhthéacs sholáthar chlár oibre uileghabhálach OPOFR i measc réimse straitéisí agus tionscnamh.

6.4. Straitéis Sonraí na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2019-2023 Buntacaíonn Straitéis Sonraí na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2019-2023 le réimse de na tionscnaimh a leagtar amach sa Tuarascáil Bhliantúil seo. Forbraíodh seo i gcomhairle le gach Roinn, an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh (an POS) ina measc, agus leagtar amach inti fís mhionsonraithe, ina bhfuil sraith spriocanna agus gníomhartha, a sholáthraíonn cur chuige níos comhcheangailte uile-Rialtais a sholáthar i dtaobh conas a úsáidtear agus a bhainistítear sonraí laistigh den tSeirbhís Phoiblí. Tá de chuspóir ag an Straitéis sraith beart a chur i bhfeidhm chun feabhas a chur ar conas a rialaítear, a bhainistítear agus a athúsáidtear sonraí ar bhealach slán, éifeachtúil agus trédhearcach ar mhaithe le saoránaigh, gnólachtaí agus an lucht déanta beartas.

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Cuireann an straitéis le tionscnaimh shonraí reatha, ar nós an Bhonneagair Shonraí Náisiúnta (an BSN), a bhaineann le daoine, gnólachtaí agus láthair a shainaithint; agus an tAcht um Roinnt agus Rialachas Sonraí (an ARRS), ina leagtar amach creat dlíthiúil le haghaidh roinnt agus rialachas sonraí ar fud an Rialtais. Dírítear sa straitéis seo ar conas a chuirfidh an Rialtas leis na tionscnaimh seo, agus sonraí a athúsáid ar bhealach slán agus trédhearcach, agus seirbhísí á soláthar agus beartais a á gcruthú ar bhealach níos nua-aimseartha, níos lúfaire agus níos eolaí. Is fearr a bheidh an Rialtas in ann freagairt d’éilimh ar sheirbhís ar bhealach lúfar a bhuíochas le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise agus mar gheall go ndéanfar an méid seo a leanas: Seirbhísí digiteacha ceann go ceann níos comhcheangailte agus níos comhtháite a

sholáthar; Próisis níos fearr le haghaidh ceapadh beartais agus meastóireachta; Feabhas a chur ar chosaint agus trédhearcacht próiseáil sonraí pearsanta; agus Riarachán a laghdú mar gheall nach gá a thuilleadh do ghnólachtaí agus saoránaigh na

sonraí céanna a sholáthar arís agus arís eile.

6.5. Idirchaidreamh a dhéanamh ar Leibhéal AE agus

Idirnáisiúnta Lean OPOFR i rith na bliana le monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairtí agus rinne sé ionadaíocht d’Éirinn ag gníomhaíochtaí idirnáisiúnta, sa chás gur chuí. Rinne sé idirchaidreamh le coistí agus grúpaí oibre AE, ach go háirithe, an méid seo a leanas ina measc:

Coiste ISA2 an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh agus grúpaí gaolmhara;

Bord Stiúrtha Phlean Gníomhaíochta Ríomhsheirbhísí Rialtais na hEorpa;

Coistí teicniúla agus beartais eIDAS;

Grúpa Comhordaithe Rialachán an Phointe Rochtana Aonair Dhigitigh; agus

Comhpháirtíocht Bhlocshlabhra na hEorpa. Leanfaidh idirchaidreamh leis an AE le bheith mar ghné thábhachtach ar a ndíreoidh OPOFR i rith 2020. Anuas air sin, tá dlús curtha leis an idirchaidreamh atá á dhéanamh le ECFE agus díreofar aird air freisin in 2020. Bhain Éire an 7ú háit amach i measc 28 Ballstát, arb áit amháin níos airde é sin i gcomparáid leis an áit a bhí bainte amach aici in 2018, san Innéacs an AE um an nGeilleagar Digiteach agus an tSochaí Dhigiteach 2019. Innéacs ilchodach é seo ina dtugtar achoimre ar tháscairí maidir le feidhmíocht dhigiteach na hEorpa i measc Nascachta, Caipiteal Daonna/scileanna Digiteacha, Úsáid Seirbhísí Idirlín ag saoránaigh, Imeascadh na Teicneolaíochta Digití ag gnólachtaí, Seirbhísí Digiteacha Poiblí, agus Taighde agus Forbairt TFC.

6.6. GovTech Cuireadh Cruinniú GovTech 2019 ar bun i Meitheamh 2019 chun anailís a dhéanamh ar an údar atá le, agus tógáil fhéideartha Éicea-chóras GovTech Éireannach. Shásaigh an chomhdháil gealltanas in Future Jobs Ireland 2019. I measc na rannpháirtithe bhí ionadaithe ó limistéir éagsúla sa tionscal, an saol acadúil, agus an tseirbhís phoiblí. Tugtar cuntas i dTuarascáil Chruinniú GovTech 2019 plé agus aschur an tionóil seo, na huaillmhianta le haghaidh GovTech sna chéad chúpla bliain eile, na bearta a thabharfadh

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dul chun cinn le fios agus na hocht ngníomh achoimre a theastaíonn chun réadúlacht a dhéanamh de na huaillmhianta. D’fhaomh an Rialtas na gníomhartha a dtugtar tús áite dóibh sa Tuarascáil i mí na Nollag 2019.

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7 Soláthar Poiblí

7.1. Athchóiriú an tSoláthair Phoiblí Cuireann an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais (an OSR) comhairle ar an Aire, an tAire Stáit agus an Rialtas maidir leis an gclár athchóirithe soláthair. Rinneadh comhairliúchán fairsing i rith 2019 ar an dul chun cinn a rinneadh maidir leis an gclár athchóirithe a chur i bhfeidhm agus ar struchtúir rialachais an OSR freisin. Cuireadh eolas ar fáil do bhaill den Oireachtas i mí na Nollag. I measc na bpríomhthéamaí a tháinig chun solais, a chuir eolas ar fail do Dhréacht-Ráiteas Straitéise 2020-2022 an OSR, bhí: neartú an tsoláthair straitéisigh; feabhas a chur ar sholáthar seirbhíse agus próisis; glacadh le digitiú; an teacht atá ag FBManna ar chonarthaí poiblí a mhéadú; agus gairmiúlú an tsoláthair. Lean an OSR le bearta a chur chun cinn a bhí dírithe ar thacú le rannpháirtíocht fiontair bheaga agus mheánmhéide i soláthar poiblí agus cuireadh cruinnithe ráithiúla den Ghrúpa Comhairleach FBManna ar siúl. Cuireadh comhairliúcháin ar bun maidir le hoifig ombudsman soláthair a bhunú, agus cuireadh tús le hathbhreithniú scóipe ní b’fhairsinge dá bharr ar na forálacha dlíthiúla agus riaracháin le haghaidh réiteach i bpróisis soláthair phoiblí. Leanadh le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an tairseach chun conarthaí poiblí a fhógairt ar Ríomhthairiscintí, ardán soláthair phoiblí an Stáit. Ba é an rud ar dhírigh an Bord Eatramhach um Athchóiriú Soláthair go príomha i rith na bliana ná méadracht chuí tuairiscithe a fhorbairt chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar ar dhul chun cinn an chláir athchóirithe soláthair agus chun tuiscint níos fearr a éascú ar ghníomhaíocht a bhain le soláthar ar fud an chórais. Rinne an Bord iarracht freisin chun feabhas a chur ar ghlacadh leis na creataí ceannaigh a chuireann an OSR agus Comhlachtaí Ceannaigh Láir earnála ar fáil agus rinne sé scrúdú ar na tionchair a imrítear trí bhreithnithe sóisialta a chur i bhfeidhm, inbhuanaitheacht chomhshaoil ina measc, i soláthar poiblí. Lean sé le monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar fheidhmíocht oibríochtúil, tionscnaimh, dúshláin, rioscaí agus saincheisteanna, go háirithe maidir le hullmhúcháin do Brexit.

7.2. Soláthar Poiblí Straitéiseach Lean an OSR leis an gCreat Beartais Náisiúnta um Sholáthar Poiblí (an CBNSP) a fhorbairt i rith na bliana. Cumasaíonn an creat, a nuashonraíodh i Samhain, cur chuige níos straitéisí, níos comhsheasmhaí agus níos comhordaithe a ghlacadh i leith soláthar poiblí ar fud na hearnála poiblí, trí threoirlínte a sholáthar agus trí nósanna imeachta soláthair a leagan amach a gcloífidh comhlachtaí poiblí leo. I measc na bpríomhthionscnamh faoinar tugadh in 2019, bhí nuashonrú na dTreoirlínte maidir le Soláthar Poiblí (Eanáir 2019) agus an tsaincheist a bhain le nótaí eolais faoi Brexit (féach thíos chun teacht ar bhreis sonraí), Pleanáil Chorparáideach Soláthair agus Ról an Oifigigh Sholáthair. D’fhoilsigh an OSR Ciorclán 20/19 freisin, i gcomhar leis an Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil, chun an úsáid a bhaintear as breithnithe comhshaoil agus sóisialta i soláthar poiblí a chur chun cinn. Lean an OSR lena ullmhúcháin do Brexit trí phleanáil teagmhais agus rannpháirteachas forleathan a dhéanamh le páirtithe leasmhara. Rinne sé scrúdú ar a chreat-chomhaontuithe chun measúnú a dhéanamh ar na rioscaí a bhaineann le Brexit gan chomhaontú agus rinne sé idirchaidreamh le príomhsholáthraithe maidir lena socruithe teagmhais. Chuir sé Nótaí Eolais nuashonraithe ar fáil ar Brexit agus Soláthar Poiblí, lena n-áirítear mír cheisteanna agus freagraí chun déileáil leis na gnáthcheisteanna faoi Brexit ó pheirspictíocht soláthair.

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Mheabhraigh sé freisin do ranna Rialtais i Meán Fómhair gur gá aon rioscaí féideartha a bhaineann le soláthar a shainaithint agus a bhainistiú agus chun pleananna teagmhais mionsonraithe a chur i bhfeidhm, nuair is gá. Lean sé le béim a leagan ar an ngá atá ag comhlachtaí poiblí le pleanáil teagmhais mhionsonraithe agus mhol sé dóibh chun measúnú a dhéanamh ar thionchair fhéideartha ar a slabhraí soláthair agus chun bearta maolaithe a chur i bhfeidhm. Bhunaigh sé ríomhphost tiomnaithe freagairt do chun freagairt do bhuartha a d’fhéadfadh bheith ar údaráis chonraitheoireachta maidir le soláthar, brexit@ogp.gov.ie

7.3. Creataí Soláthair na Seirbhíse Poiblí Glacann an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais (an OSR) ceannas maidir leis an gclár athchóirithe soláthair a chur i bhfeidhm, mar chuid d’athchóiriú níos fairsinge na hearnála poiblí. Bhunaigh sé réimse fairsing creat-chomhaontuithe agus conarthaí i gcaitheamh na bliana chun cabhrú le comhlachtaí earnála poiblí chun earraí agus seirbhísí a fháil. Bhunaigh sé 23 creat-chomhaontú breise, 17 gconradh dhioscráideacha agus breis agus 964 iomaíocht ó chreat-chomhaontuithe agus tá anois breis agus 120 creat-chomhaontú gníomhach i bhfeidhm aige. Mar gheall go bhfuil creat-chomhaontuithe reatha an OSR le hathsholáthar, tapaíonn sé gach deis chun feabhas a chur ar eispéireas cliant. Mar shampla, i gcás na gcreataí den dara glúin agus i gcás gléasanna ríomhaire glúine agus ríomhaire a bunaíodh i rith na bliana, freastalaítear ar go leor den éileamh anois trí shocruithe tarraingthe anuas dhírigh seachas trí mhionchomórtais a mbíonn níos mó acmhainní ag teastáil uathu a bhíodh ar siúl sna creataí den chéad ghlúin. I gcaitheamh na bliana, thacaigh an OSR le straitéisí ardleibhéil soláthair agus conraitheoireachta do thionscadail ar fud an Rialtais, roinnt ina measc a sholáthraíonn tacaíocht ríthábhachtach nuair a bhíonn seirbhísí á soláthar don saoránach. Mar shampla, cuireadh príomhchonarthaí i bhfeidhm chun leictreachas a sholáthar do shoilsiú sráide, otharcharranna don earnáil phoiblí níos fairsinge agus seirbhís suirbhéireachta aispeiste a chuirtear ar fáil do FSS, OOP agus údaráis áitiúla. Bhuaigh an OSR gradam in 2019 ag na Gradaim Bhainistíochta Saoráidí do chomhthionscadal leis an nGarda Síochána – Tionscadal Bainistíochta Saoráidí na Bliana - Sláinte agus Oideachas.

7.4. Soláthar Tógála Seoladh athbhreithniú ar na beartais agus na cleachtais a cuireadh chun feidhme chun tionscadail oibreacha poiblí a sholáthar i Márta. Is éard a bhaineann leis seo ná idirchaidreamh forleathan a dhéanamh le páirtithe leasmhara tionscail, agus leis na comhlachtaí poiblí atá freagrach as tionscadail oibreacha poiblí a sholáthar maidir le réimse fairsing saincheisteanna. Dírítear i dtosach ar sheirbhísí sainchomhairleoireachta a fhostú, atá dírithe ar shainmhíniú níos fearr a thabhairt ar an tionscadal, chun cinnteacht níos fearr a sholáthar dóibh siúd atá ag tabhairt faoin gcéim thógála. Bainfidh an t-athbhreithniú athruithe suntasacha amach ar an gCreat Bainistíochta Oibreacha Caipitiúla (an CBOC) sna blianta amach romhainn. Foilsíodh Páipéar Seasaimh ar Rannpháirtíocht Sainchomhairleoireachta i mBealtaine 2019 mar chuid den chéad ghlúin eile den CBOC a fhorbairt. Cuireann Aonad Beartas Tógála an OSR cruinniú Choiste Conarthaí Tógála an Rialtais (CCTR) ar siúl. Chas an Coiste seo ar a chéile 8 n-uaire in 2019 chun plé a dhéanamh ar shaincheisteanna a bhain le tógáil san earnáil phoiblí agus chun comhairle shaineolach agus ionchur teicniúil a chur ar fáil ar bheartas soláthair tógála náisiúnta san earnáil phoiblí a

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fhorbairt. Ghlac an tAonad páirt freisin i nGrúpa na hEarnála Tógála agus i seimineáir/imeachtaí soláthair éagsúla an tionscail tógála agus na hearnála poiblí i gcaitheamh na bliana. Déanfar thart ar 80% den airgead a chaithfear faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2018-2027 a infheistiú i dtionscadail oibreacha/a sholáthrófar tríd an gCreat Bainistíochta Oibreacha Caipitiúla, a bhainistíonn an OSR. Bhunaigh an OSR Acadamh Scileanna Tráchtála chun clár oiliúna dírithe a sholáthar chun feabhas a chur ar inniúlachtaí na bhfostaithe siúd sa tseirbhís phoiblí sna príomhranna caiteachais agus i gcomhlachtaí earnála poiblí atá freagrach as tionscadail infheistíochta caipitil a sholáthar. Soláthraíodh clár oiliúna píolótach Scileanna Tráchtála go rathúil ina raibh cúig mhodúl a chuaigh i ngleic le príomhscileanna tráchtála chun tionscadail oibreacha caipitil a bhainistiú i Ráithe 4 2019.

7.5. Rannpháirteachas le Páirtithe Leasmhara Lean an OSR le hidirchaidreamh réamhghníomhach a dhéanamh le líonra forleathan páirtithe leasmhara, an tOireachtas, comhlachtaí ionadaíocha tionscail agus earnála poiblí, agus ar leibhéal idirnáisiúnta agus AE ina measc.

Rinne an OSR soláthar poiblí straitéiseach a chur chun cinn ag roinnt imeachtaí earnáilbhunaithe agus faoi stiúir an tionscail; chuir sé cruinniú bliantúil an Líonra an Chomhlachta Lárnaigh Ceannaigh (an CLC) ar siúl do CLCanna ar fud an AE; ghlac sé páirt i ngrúpa oibre FBManna na Roinne Gnó, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta; rinne sé ionadaíocht d’Éirinn ar leibhéal idirnáisiúnta agus trí idirchaidreamh a dhéanamh le Ballstáit maidir le roinnt mhaith saincheisteanna; agus chuir sé cruinnithe déthaobhacha ar siúl le comhlachtaí ionadaíocha an tionscail maidir leis an gclár athchóirithe soláthair a thabhairt chun cinn.

Chas an Grúpa Comhairleach FBManna le chéile 4 huaire i rith 2019, agus d’fhreastail ionadaithe soláthair ó na hearnálacha Oideachais, Sláinte, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Rialtas Láir ar chruinniú mhí na Nollag. Tá miontuairiscí a chuid cruinnithe ar fáil ag www.ogp.gov.ie.

Lean an OSR le straitéis cumarsáide an Ghrúpa a thabhairt isteach chun deiseanna chun páirt a ghlacadh i soláthar poiblí san earnáil FBManna a chur chun cinn. I measc na n-imeachtaí bhí cruinnithe faisnéise Bainistíochta Saoráidí a bhí dírithe ar sholáthraithe sa chatagóir sholáthair seo, oiliúint Go2Tender, Cruinnithe Faisnéise Bricfeasta, agus rannpháirtíocht ag imeachtaí náisiúnta ardphróifíle náisiúnta. Chuir an OSR lena shraith físeán freisin ina mínítear an próiseas soláthair, anuas ar chás-staidéir de FBManna ar éirigh leo conarthaí poiblí a bhaint amach a sholáthar.

Cliaint na hEarnála Poiblí: Lean Príomhbhainisteoirí Cuntais (PBCanna) an OSR le hidirchaidreamh a dhéanamh le cliaint shinsearacha san earnáil phoiblí chun feasacht ar, agus idirchaidreamh le, réitigh sholáthair lárnacha a mhéadú agus chun tacú le cleachtais soláthair straitéisigh a fhorbairt. Rinne Deasc Chabhrach Seirbhís do Chustaiméirí an OSR idirchaidreamh go díreach le cliaint agus soláthraithe san earnáil phoiblí i gcaitheamh 2019 agus rinne siad bainistiú ar 11,000 ceist ó chomhlachtaí agus soláthraithe seirbhíse poiblí. Astu seo, réitíodh 92% de na ceisteanna an chéad uair a lorgaíodh iad agus réitíodh 82% laistigh de 24 uair an chloig. Bhí 84% de na riachtanais a fuarthas cumhdaithe ag creat-chomhaontuithe reatha an OSR. Eisíodh nuachtlitreacha ráithiúla do pháirtithe leasmhara i gcaitheamh 2019. Foilsíodh agus nuashonraíodh sceidil de shocruithe reatha agus a bhí ag teacht aníos ar líne.

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D’fhreastail thart ar 300 ionadaí ó limistéir ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí ar chomhdháil do chliaint na hearnála poiblí i Samhain.

D’fhreagair an OSR i rith na bliana do shuirbhé ar chliaint a rinneadh in 2018 tríd an méid seo a leanas a dhéanamh: cumarsáid níos fearr a sholáthar maidir le hamlínte chun comórtais a chríochnú fúthu; próisis agus ábhair a shimpliú; agus láithreán gréasáin nua cliant a choimisiúnú chun teacht níos éasca ar fhaisnéis a sholáthar faoi chreat-chomhaontuithe, a bhí sceidealaithe lena sheoladh i 2020.

Lean an tAonad Beartas Tógála ag freastal ar a ríomhphost tiomnaithe soláthair tógála, a sholáthraíonn treoir agus comhairle faoi oibreacha agus ceisteanna a bhaineann le hoibreacha agus soláthar agus conarthacha, anuas ar a láithreán gréasáin CBOC.

7.6. Tuarascáil Anailíse ar Chaiteachas agus ar

Tairiscintí na Seirbhíse Poiblí Ar aon dul le sainchúram an OSR chun trédhearcacht sa soláthar poiblí a mhéadú agus chun feabhas a chur ar anailísíocht sonraí maidir le caiteachas poiblí ar earraí agus seirbhísí, seoladh Tuarascáil Anailíse ar Chaiteachas agus Tairiscintí na Seirbhíse Poiblí 2017 i Nollaig. Seo an cúigiú tuarascáil dá leithéid agus déantar anailís ann ar shuim breis agus €4.9 billiún, nó 82%, den caiteachas bliantúil inrochtana ar sholáthar poiblí faoi shainchúram an OSR agus a chomhpháirtithe earnála agus ar beagnach 4,400 fógra tairisceana seirbhíse poiblí atá foilsithe ar eTenders.gov.ie a bhfuil luach measta conartha €6.1 billiún orthu. Thug an tuarascáil le fios go ndéantar 94% den chaiteachas a ndearnadh anailís air le gnóthais laistigh den Stát agus go ndéantar an tromlach den chaiteachas is le FBManna.

7.7. Úsáid níos fearr a bhaint as Teicneolaíocht

Dhigiteach Sainaithníodh Claochlú Digiteach mar shnáithe mór de Dhréacht-Ráiteas Straitéise nua an OSR de réir mar a lorgaíonn an eagraíocht chun dlús a chur le soláthar digiteach a seirbhísí ar bhealach inrochtana, comhsheasmhach agus iomasach. Lorgaíonn an OSR chun próisis phoiblí agus na struchtúir thacaíochta a chuíchóiriú agus a fheabhsú a theastaíonn chun soláthar trédhearcach agus éifeachtúil a chumasú, trí struchtúir thacaíochta Ríomhsholáthair nua a fhorbairt ina measc.

Lean Straitéis an Rialtas ar siúl in 2019 ina bhfuil an úsáid a bhaintear as an Teicneolaíocht Dhigiteach á méadú i bpríomhthionscadail oibreacha poiblí a chistítear tríd an gclár caipitil poiblí. Príomhthionscadal is ea straitéis cur chun feidhme na Samhla Faisnéise faoi Fhoirgnimh (SFB) a thabhairt isteach. Déanfar é seo a thabhairt san áireamh ar bhonn céimnithe isteach san earnáil soláthair i gcaitheamh tréimhse ceithre bliana agus tosófar leis na tionscadail mhórscála ar dtús mar gheall go bhfuil na hacmhainní ag an tsainchomhairleoireacht theicniúil níos mó chun SFB a sholáthar. Tacóidh na Caighdeáin nua um SFB, a d’fhoilsigh Eagraíocht Idirnáisiúnta na gCaighdeán (ISO) le déanaí le cur chuige comhsheasmhach i leith SFB a sholáthar in Éirinn agus i margadh ar fud an domhain.

Chuir an tAonad Beartas Tógála seimineár Oibreacha Digiteacha ar siúl i nDeireadh Fómhair agus leagadh amach ann forbairtí a rinne comhlachtaí poiblí a bhfuil páirt á glacadh acu cheana féin. Díríodh sa seimineár ar na tairbhí a bhaineann le

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hinfheistíocht a dhéanamh i réitigh dhigiteacha agus d’fhreastail cinnteoirí sinsearacha, bainisteoirí TF agus sealbhóirí buiséid ó limistéir fud fad na seirbhíse poiblí air.

Bhunaigh an OSR tionscadal Ardán Ríomhthairiscintí chun na riachtanais a shonrú agus chun conradh nua a bhunú don Ardán Ríomhthairiscintí, ar éag an chonartha reatha, in 2020. Bunaíodh Coiste Stiúrtha trasearnála agus tá rannpháirteachas agus comhairliúchán substainteach le páirtithe leasmhara ar bun faoi láthair. Beidh go leor oibre i gceist le haistriú go dtí ardán nua, agus déanfaidh sé difear do gach comhlacht poiblí, agus bainfidh ríthábhacht leis an oiliúint chuí a sholáthar chun an rath a bhaint amach.

Chuir Clár Ríomhshonrasctha an OSR ar chumas na gcomhlachtaí Rialtas Láir cheana féin chun sonraisc leictreonacha a fháil agus a phróiseáil agus tá an clár á thabhairt isteach faoi láthair i measc comhlachtaí Rialtas Fo-Láir, ag féachaint lena gcríochnú faoi lár na bliana 2020. Lean an OSR lena fheachtas cumarsáide agus rannpháirteachais le páirtithe leasmhara i rith 2019 agus roinn sé idir nuashonruithe agus treoir le comhlachtaí poiblí trí fhóraim agus cainéil éagsúla agus chuir sé ceardlann ar siúl i Samhain lena chomhpháirtithe earnála. Cuireadh tús le plé maidir le Ríomhshonrascadh a bhunú laistigh de chlár níos fairsinge digiteach agus/nó athchóirithe, le tacaíocht agus/nó le ceannaireacht ón mbainistíocht shinsearach sa státseirbhís.

Seoladh réiteach leictreonach an Doiciméid Aonair Eorpaigh maidir le Soláthar (rDAES) maidir le Ríomhthairiscintí an 28 Eanáir 2019. Is é an rDAES an chéad doiciméad caighdeánaithe digiteach Ríomhsholáthair atá ar fáil do gach fortháirgeoir atá bunaithe san AE. Fuair an tionscadal cistiú €428,000 ón gCoimisiún Eorpach i dtreo na gcostas iomlán forbartha rDAES €602,000. I gcaitheamh 2019, eisíodh 1,544 tairiscint, ar an iomlán, le hiarrataí rDAES agus fuarthas 5,534 freagairt rDAES ó sholáthraithe maidir leis na tairiscintí siúd.

Rinneadh córas bainistíochta sreabhadh oibre Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) agus córas Bainistíochta ar Chaidreamh le Custaiméirí, a thacaíonn le 150 úsáideoir i bhfeidhmeanna Sheirbhís do Chustaiméirí agus Foinsithe an OSR a chur chun feidhme an 31 Eanáir 2019. Faoi dheireadh 2019, bhí 10,365 cásanna cliaint agus soláthraí, 1, 743 riachtanais cliaint agus breis agus 1,256 tionscadal foinsithe cruthaithe ar an gcóras.

7.8. Tacú le Foireann an OSR Leanann an OSR ag tacú lena fhostaithe chun a gcumas a fhorbairt agus a bhaint amach laistigh den eagraíocht. Leithdháileadh nach mór 40% de bhuiséad Foghlama agus Forbartha (FF) an OSR don fhoireann a bhí ag tabhairt faoi cháilíochtaí gairmiúla tríú leibhéal a bhaint amach dóibh féin agus ghlac 47 fostaí páirt ina Scéim Breisoideachais, agus thug 35 díobh siúd (74%) faoi cháilíochtaí a bhaint amach a bhain le soláthar poiblí. Leithdháil an OSR 7.5% dá bhuiséad FF chun tacú le sainróil laistigh d’aonaid ghnó éagsúla in 2019, freastal ina measc ar chomhdhálacha, ballraíocht de chomhlachtaí gairmiúla agus suibscríbhinní le foilseacháin ábhartha ina measc. Ghlac nócha a dó faoin gcéad de lucht saothair an OSR páirt in 25 ceardlann a chabhraigh le heolas a sholáthar do sheacht gcroíthéama Straitéis Daoine nua an OSR – EMPOWER. Buntacaíonn plean um chur i bhfeidhm mionsonraithe le EMPOWER ina leagtar amach 111 cuspóir faoi 7 gcroíthéama agus baineann amscálaí agus tomhas ar an

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rath le gach cuspóir (Rannpháirtíocht, Difear a Dhéanamh, Meon Dearfach, Deis, Folláine, Saineolas agus Aitheantas). Seoladh an straitéis i Márta. Rinneadh éachtaí tábhachtacha in 2019 faoi gach ceann de ghnéithe EMPOWER, ach go háirithe, cultúr cóitseála a fhorbairt, tiomantas leanúnach láidir i dtreo tionscnaimh ionchuimsithe agus éagsúlachta, forbairt samhail lúfar cheannaireachta a chur i gcrích agus tionscnaimh nua freagrachta sóisialta corparáidí a sheoladh. Is é an OSR an chéad eagraíocht Státseirbhíse a d’oibrigh as lámh leis an tionscnamh Áit Iontach le hOibriú Ann (GPTW) chun a aistear tacaíochta fostaithe a thagarmharcáil go ceann trí bliana. Ba é an scór GPTW a bhain an OSR amach sa chéad bhliain ná 55%, arbh airde sin ná an tagarmharc san earnáil phoiblí níos fairsinge agus chuir na torthaí eolas ar fáil do Dhréacht-Ráiteas Straitéise an OSR a fhorbairt.

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8 Tacú lenár bhFoireann chun a Misean a Bhaint Amach

8.1. Straitéis People@PER Príomhchumasóir é an tAonad Acmhainní Daonna a chuireann ar chumas na Roinne chun a croíchuspóirí caiteachais agus athchóirithe a shásamh trína chinntiú gur féidir leis an bhfoireann an rannchuidiú is éifeachtaí agus is féidir a dhéanamh agus go mbíonn na scileanna agus an t-eolas acu a theastaíonn chun a spriocanna a bhaint amach. Tá sé freagrach as réimse fairsing de sheirbhísí Acmhainní Daonna a sholáthar agus as Straitéis People@PER 2017-2020 a sholáthar. Tá an Straitéis bunaithe ar roinnt prionsabal agus cuireann sí creat ar fáil chun tabhairt isteach tionscnamh duineláraithe a threorú, chun tacú le cuspóirí roinne a bhaint amach agus chun tionchar dearfach a imirt ar ár gcultúr eagraíochta. Tá na téamaí sa straitéis ar aon dul le Ráiteas Straitéise 2016-2019 an RCPA, Clár Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse, Straitéis Daoine na Státseirbhíse 2017-2020 agus Ár Seirbhís Phoiblí 2020. Ar cheann de na príomhthosaíochtaí straitéiseacha a shainaithnítear sa straitéis People@PER, tá ‘luach a léiriú ar éagsúlacht agus tacú le lucht saothair ionchuimsitheach’. Tá an Roinn tiomanta do thacú le lucht saothair ionchuimsitheach agus éagsúil ina léirítear Éire sa nua-aois agus na daoine ar a bhfreastalaíonn sé. Tá an straitéis meáite ar chultúr a chruthú ina mbíonn an teacht céanna ag an bhfoireann go léir ar dheiseanna agus ina bhfuil siad ar a gcompord agus muiníneach a bheith ar a nós féin ag an obair. Chun tacú leis an misean seo, thug an Roinn roinnt gníomhaíochtaí isteach ón mbliain 2018 chun aitheantas na héagsúlachta a leabú ar fud na heagraíochta. Thug sí faoi chleachtadh Diagnóiseach Éagsúlachta agus Ionchuimsithe (ÉI) ar fud na heagraíochta chun tuiscint a fháil ar eispéireas fhostaithe na Roinne ar an éagsúlacht agus ionchuimsiú agus chun staid Éi sa Roinn faoi láthair a shainaithint. Lean an grúpa trasrannach PERspectives, a bunaíodh chun tacú le Straitéis People@PER a sholáthar, leis an gclár éagsúlachta a thabhairt chun cinn agus le hiarracht a dhéanamh chun cultúr ionchuimsitheach a leabú ar fud na roinne. Tugann obair na Roinne sa limistéar seo aird ar an gceanglas maidir le Dualgas na Seirbhíse Poiblí a leagtar amach in Alt 42 den Acht fá Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine agus Comhionannas, 2014.

8.2. Comhpháirtíocht Gnó Acmhainní Daonna Gníomhaíonn an fheidhm Chomhpháirtíochta Gnó (CG) mar sheirbhís sainchomhairleoireachta/chomhairleach don bhainistíocht shinsearach agus don fhoireann chun tacú leo chun athrú a chur chun cinn. Lean sé le pleananna agus réitigh Acmhainní Daonna a fhorbairt agus a chur i bhfeidhm chun spriocanna straitéiseacha a bhaint amach agus chun torthaí a sholáthar. Leanadh le cur chuige straitéiseach a chur chun feidhme i dtaobh acmhainní soláthair foirne a leithdháileadh ar fud na Roinne, lena chinntiú go ndearnadh acmhainní a ailíniú le tosaíochtaí gnó. Lean Grúpa Pleanála an Lucht Saothair ag casadh lena chéile go rialta chun athbhreithniú agus breithniú a dhéanamh ar an tionchar a d’imir forbairtí beartais / tionscnaimh nua Acmhainní Daonna.

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Anuas ar thacú le rannóga trí Cheardlanna bliantúla Pleanála Gnó a éascú, thacaigh na Comhpháirtithe Gnó freisin le breis agus 65 ball foirne a earcú agus le socrúchán a sholáthar dóibh sa Roinn agus d’oibrigh siad go dlúth le bainistíocht SMERÉ maidir le feachtais shaincheaptha earcaíochta i gcaitheamh na bliana. Rinne an tAonad bainistiú ar go leor cásanna idirbheartaíochta Acmhainní Daonna agus ar cheisteanna casta a bhain le caidreamh idir fostaithe. Anuas ar seo, príomhról den fhoireann Chomhpháirtíochta Gnó is ea an Bhainistíocht Líne a chóitseáil go héifeachtach agus tacú leo chun beartas agus nósanna imeachta Acmhainní Daonna a chur chun feidhme agus i ngníomh. Leanadh ag díriú ar chaidreamh tionsclaíoch cobhsaí a inbhuanú trí shásra foirmiúil na Comhairle Roinne agus trí idirchaidreamh leanúnach a dhéanamh le hionadaithe ar thaobh na foirne.

8.3. Oibríochtaí Acmhainní Daonna Lean an fheidhm earcaíocht agus roghnaithe le ról tábhachtach a ghlacadh i dtaobh tacú leis an Roinn chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar a clár athchóirithe. Lean coinneáil le dúshlán a chruthú agus rinne an tAonad 67 ball foirne a earcú agus rinne sí scor 53 ball foirne a bhainistiú - ar bhaill iad beagnach 29% díobh a bhí ag fágáil i ndiaidh ardú céime a fháil. Seoladh córas nua Ríomhearcaíochta ar líne i Samhain 2019 agus déanfaidh an nuálaíocht seo próisis earcaíochta na Roinne a chuíchóiriú. Cuireadh 5 sheisiún ar leith de Chlár Ionduchtúcháin na Roinne ar siúl in 2019. Lean seo le ról tábhachtach a ghlacadh i dtaobh tacú leis an bhfoireann nua a thosaigh ag oibriú leis an Roinn, go háirithe iad siúd arb earcaithe nua iad leis an Státseirbhís. Bhí seisiún ionduchtúcháin ar siúl freisin don fhoireann nua a thosaigh ag oibriú le SMERÉ ar leibhéil OC agus CI. Cé gur lean an Roinn le hardleibhéal d’aiseolas dearfach a fháil ar an gClár Ionduchtúcháin, rinneadh athbhreithniú ar an gClár Ionduchtúcháin in 2019 agus seolfar an clár nua in 2020.

8.4. Forbairt Eagraíochta Ag cur le héachtaí Straitéis Foghlama agus Forbartha Acmhainní Daonna ONE 2015-2017, leanadh leis an mbealach chun foghlaim agus forbairt eagraíochta a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú faoi Straitéis People@PER 2017-2020. Ghlac ceithre chéad agus ochtú a seacht ball foirne páirt i dtionscnamh foghlama agus forbartha amháin nó níos mó in 2019 agus cuireadh 2,508 lá oiliúna foirmiúil, ar an iomlán, i gcuntas arb ionann sin agus 5 lá oiliúna fhoirmiúla in aghaidh an fhostaí. Aithníodh aibíocht na foghlama agus na forbartha sa Roinn nuair a cuireadh ar an ngearrliosta í do Dhámhachtainí Acmhainní Daonna CIPD Ireland 2019.

Chuir Scéim chuimsitheach Oideachais Iariontrála, a thacaigh le 19 mball foirne a bhí ag tabhairt faoi chláir acadúla i roinnt disciplíní éagsúla leis an idirghabháil foghlama agus forbartha. Áiríodh leo seo, airgeadas, gnó agus eacnamaíocht, Acmhainní Daonna, anailís beartais, córais faisnéise agus bainistíocht phoiblí. Príomhghné in uasoiliúint na foirne agus ina ngairmiúlú é forbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach (FGL). Éascaíodh FGL i ngach rannán den Roinn chun déileáil le freastal ar sheimineáir, comhdhálacha, cláir oiliúna ghearra phoiblí agus suibscríbhinní le comhlachtaí gairmiúla.

8.5. Bainistíocht Chorparáideach Lean Oifig Chorparáideach na Roinne le tacaíocht níos ginearálta chorparáideach a sholáthar don Ard-Rúnaí, an Bord Bainistíochta agus an Roinn, riaradh agus próiseáil

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Ceisteanna Parlaiminte, Iarrataí Cosanta Sonraí, Ionstraimí Reachtúla, Meabhráin Ríomh-Chomh-Aireachta agus Iarrataí um Shaoráil Faisnéise. Rinne sé cur chuige na Roinne a chomhordú freisin i leith rialachais, bainistíocht riosca agus a creat comhlíonta a chur i bhfeidhm. I measc na bpríomhaschur agus na bpríomhthascanna i rith na bliana, bhí an méid seo a leanas:

Ullmhú Phlean Gnó don bhliain 2019 agus 2020 agus Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2018 na Roinne;

Comhordú a dhéanamh ar bhainistíocht rioscaí straitéiseacha ardleibhéil agus ar leibhéal aonad gnó sa Roinn agus ar an ionchur leis an Measúnú Riosca Náisiúnta faoinar thug Roinn an Taoisigh;

Cur i bhfeidhm leanúnach an Rialacháin Ghinearálta um Chosaint Sonraí (an RGCS);

Tús a chur le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar Bheartas Bainistíochta Taifead na Roinne;

Tús a chur le Plean Leanúnachais Gnó a fhorbairt;

Maoirseacht neartaithe a dhéanamh ar, agus idirchaidreamh neartaithe a dhéanamh leis, na Comhlachtaí faoi Choimirce na Roinne;

Comhaontú a dhéanamh ar Chreat Rialachais leasaithe TFC; agus

Cur chuige níos córasaí i leith Bainistíocht Eolais sa Roinn a thabhairt chun cinn. Lean an tAonad Airgeadais le feabhas a chur ar bhainistíocht airgeadais sa Roinn, lena n-áirítear: na Cuntais Leithreasa a ullmhú; Meastacháin bhliantúla na Roinne a chruthú; tacaíocht agus comhairle gnó a sholáthar do ranna na Roinne; athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar chuntais Chinn Chomhairimh i ndiaidh gach imeacht toghcháin; feabhas a chur ar rialachas, comhlíonadh agus nósanna imeachta airgeadais, agus an Roinn a stiúradh agus a ullmhú san aistriú go dtí Seirbhís Chomhroinnte Bainistíochta Airgeadais. Lean Oifig an Aire le tacaíocht feidhmiúcháin a sholáthar don Aire Airgeadais agus Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe ina ról mar cheann polaitiúil na Ranna seo, agus chabhraigh seo leis chun a ról a chomhlíonadh agus lena chinntiú go ndéantar obair na Ranna ar gá don Aire aird a thabhairt orthu, a phróiseáil éifeachtúil, a cheadaíonn don dá Roinn chun a spriocanna ardleibhéil a bhaint amach. Glacann Oifig an Ard-Rúnaí le príomhról i dtaobh tacaíocht a sholáthar don Ard-Rúnaí i gcomhthéacs a chuid freagrachtaí faoin Acht um Bainistíocht na Seirbhíse Poiblí, 1997. Tá an ról seo bunriachtanach maidir le feidhmiú éifeachtach na Roinne agus baineann oibriú go dlúth leis an Ard-Rúnaí agus le gach Rannán de chuid na Roinne leis. Lean an Phreasoifig le fís, ráiteas misin, agus luachanna agus obair an Aire a léiriú chun cumarsáid a dhéanamh ar bhealach straitéiseach agus éifeachtach le páirtithe leasmhara ábhartha.

8.6. Iniúchóireacht Inmheánach agus AE Cuireann an tAonad Iniúchóireachta Inmheánaí agus Aonad Iniúchóireachta an Aontais Eorpaigh seirbhís iniúchóireachta inmheánaí ar fáil don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe agus don Roinn Airgeadais agus is é an tÚdarás Iniúchóireachta d’Éirinn faoi Chiste Forbraíochta Réigiúnaí na hEorpa (CFRE), faoi mar a cheanglaítear i rialacháin an Aontais Eorpaigh. Chríochnaigh an tAonad Iniúchóireachta deich n-idirchaidreamh iniúchóireachta inmheánaí don Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe maidir lena Clár iniúchtaí 2019. D’eascair

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moltaí astu seo chun gnéithe éagsúla de phróisis na Roinne lena mbaineann ríthábhacht ghnó a fheabhsú. Mar chuid dá comhaontú iniúchóireachta inmheánaí seirbhíse comhroinnte leis an Roinn Airgeadais, chríochnaigh an tAonad Iniúchóireachta ocht dtuarascáil iniúchóireachta inmheánaí maidir lena clár 2019 d’iniúchtaí agus de na torthaí a tugadh le fios do Choiste Iniúchóireachta na Roinne. Mar chuid de phlean iniúchóireachta 2019, thosaigh an tAonad, i gcomhar leis an Aonad Acmhainní Daonna, tús le hathbhreithniú ar an gcultúr sa Roinn. Rinneadh an obair a chonrú le sainchomhairleoirí seachtracha agus tabharfar na torthaí le fios i lár 2018.

8.7. Oifig an Phríomhoifigigh Leighis (POL) Cuireadh comhairle leighis de chuid an POL in 2019 ar lucht saothair thart ar 42,000 státseirbhíseach, oifigeach príosúin, fostaí stáit tionsclaíoch agus fostaí tionsclaíoch cosanta. Chuir an POL comhairle leighis ar fáil freisin do roinnt eagraíochtaí earnála poiblí eile. Dhéileáil sé le beagnach 14,000 ceist bhainistíochta cáis in 2019, anuas ar imdhíonadh, closghraim agus scagthástáil sláinte, i measc thart ar 55 Roinn agus Oifig. I measc na limistéar nua oibre, bhí seiceálacha ar éisteacht closghraim agus ar nochtadh do dheannach d’oibrithe tionsclaíocha OOP agus imdhíonadh d’oifigigh inimirce. Bronnadh creidiúnú Seirbhís Sláinte Cheirde Shábháilte, Éifeachtach, Ardchaighdeáin (SEQOHS) ar an POL i Meitheamh 2019. Scéim idirnáisiúnta creidiúnaithe é le haghaidh seirbhísí sláinte cheirde a bhainistíonn Coláiste Ríoga na Lianna, Londain thar ceann Dhámh na Míochaine Saothair. Ghlac sé thart ar 18 mí ar an POL chun ullmhú don chreidiúnú seo agus bhain cigireacht mhionsonraithe ar an láthair leis a rinne speisialtóirí sláinte cheirde. Cinntíonn creidiúnú gur seirbhís nua-aimseartha agus éifeachtúil atá sa POL a oibrítear ar aon dul le dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta sláinte cheirde.