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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D., today published the report of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance.

The Independent Panel was established by Minister Howlin in January last to develop recommendations to strengthen Civil Service accountability and performance. Following an extensive public consultation process, and its own assessment, the Independent Panel has made ten recommendations for a stronger performing and more accountable Civil Service. These include establishing an Accountability Board for the Civil Service with external membership, and appointing for the first time a full-time Head of the Civil Service.

The Independent Panel believes that an Accountability Board would introduce greater rigour to Civil Service accountability and performance, and would offer a greater degree of public assurance by having external membership and oversight. Such a Board would have an overall governance role across the Civil Service, and would provide it with an additional outward focus. The Independent Board also recommends the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service to provide leadership, to introduce a performance management system for Secretaries General, and oversee implementation of agreed Government priorities. The Independent Panel believes that this position would lead to faster and more responsive delivery of policy across the Civil Service.

Minister Howlin thanked the three member Independent Panel, chaired by Professor Kevin Rafter, DCU, for the comprehensive and considerable work undertaken by them over five months. Minister Howlin said that “This is a very valuable report that will help inform and foster public debate on the crucial issue of Civil Service accountability and performance. It provides a timely assessment of how more robust governance could assist in building public trust in our administrative system, and ensuring faster and more responsive policy delivery”.

The Independent Panel’s Report and recommendations will be considered by the Minister and the Government in the context of determining by the end of July the agreed actions to be implemented under the Civil Service Renewal Programme.