Institute of Public Administration

Institute of Public Administration | 57-61 Lansdowne Road | Dublin 4 | Ireland | Ph. +353 1 2403600 | www.ipa.ie

Fit for Purpose Public Administration

Dr. Richard Boyle

Head of Research

© IPA 2

Numbers employed in the public sector and public service

240000

260000

280000

300000

320000

340000

360000

380000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Nu

mb

er

em

plo

ye

d

Public sector Public service (public sector minus commercial state-sponsored bodies)

© IPA 3

Numbers employed per 000 population

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Pe

r 0

00

po

pu

lati

on

Public sector employment Public service employment

© IPA 4

Exchequer pay and pensions bill

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Eu

ro

(m

illi

on

)

Exchequer pay bill Exchequer pensions bill

© IPA 5

Quality of public administration

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Sc

ore

ou

t o

f 1

0

Ireland EU15 EU27 Finland Romania

© IPA 6

Fit for Purpose? 5 Key Challenges

•Designing a productive civil service•Renewing public service capacity•Implementation•Engaging the citizen•Securing effective political accountability

© IPA 7

Designing a productive public service

• More joined-up and shared services• Better inter-working between levels and agencies of

government• Better data on performance to inform budgetary

decision making• Further regulatory reform

© IPA 8

Renewing public service capacity

• Improved leadership capabilities and focus on public service motivation

• Enhanced capacity review and workforce planning• More specialist skills

© IPA 9

Implementation

• New arrangements to oversee reform• Improved process and change management initiatives

and skills

© IPA 10

Engaging the citizen

• Citizen engagement in policy formulation and implementation

• Better provision of and access to open government data sources

© IPA 11

Political accountability

• Enhancing accountability relationships• Strengthening management accountability and

responsibility• Strengthening parliamentary scrutiny of performance• Strengthening the budgetary framework