The Croke Park Agreement: The HR Challenge Mr. Ciarán Connolly Secretary General Public Service Management & Development Department of Finance

Setting the Scene: Current Economic Crisis Scale of our economic difficulties Exchequer deficit - borrowing Public Sector pay & pensions Critical role of public sector transformation

Reform Initiatives Strategic Management Initiative (SMI) Delivering Better Government (DBG) Transforming Public Services (TPS)  Following OECD Review (2008)

TPS: HR Issues Managing performance and challenging underperformance Strengthening links between performance and access to promotions and increments Competitive, merit based promotions linked to performance systems Removal of barriers to a unified Public Service labour market Senior Public Service Greater use of HRM shared services

Public Service Agreement: HR Issues Performance Management Unified Public Service Labour Market Work Life Balance Arrangements Management of Sick Leave Open/Skilled Recruitment

TPS: Shared Services In-sourced and out-sourced Financial Management Procurement ICT Systems Management Human Resource Management

Croke Park & Shared Services Croke Park  greater sharing of resources through the use of shared services within and across sectors. Pilot Shared Services projects  Pensions administration  Payroll and Financial Management  Human Resource Management

HR Shared Service A single HRSSC for the Civil Service – staffed by Civil Servants To carry out transactional elements of HR processes Free up HR Units to concentrate on HR Management RFT to engage expertise to assist with the process

Move to HR Shared Service Two main phases: Set Up Transition External Assistance

HRSS: Set Up Phase Significant element – BPR  to improve and standardise HR processes  Workshops with Civil Service subject-matter experts Role definition  HR Units  HRSSC

HRSS: Transition Phase Tranches based on size, numbers, grades, etc Training  HR Unit staff  HRSSC staff Review following transition of first wave  Apply lessons learnt

HRSS: Shared Service Operation Expertise Post Set Up and Transition Minimum of one year – maximum of three Skills Transfer HRSSC running efficiently and effectively

HRSSC Steering Group Working Group on HRSS established: Department of Finance Department of Social Protection Department of Transport Office of Public Works Revenue Commissioners Agree Award Criteria Sign off on RFT Address queries from bidders Evaluate bids received

Project Timelines (Indicative) I November 2010Issue RFT February/March 2011Receive tenders March 2011Finalise evaluation & Award Contract May 2011Contract Negotiation

Project Timelines (Indicative) II July 2011Commence Set Up 12 months (RFT – “no longer than”) June 2012Commence Transition 30 months (RFT – “no longer than”) End 2014HRSSC fully live 2 years Shared Service Operation Expertise

Public Service Management Division Department of Finance