The Taoiseach has announced that Government departments and offices will undergo a new kind of comprehensive review which he termed "a full organisational health check".
Mr Ahern said the purpose of the review was to ensure that individual organisations had the capabilities - in service delivery, leadership, technology, financial management and project management - to deal with the challenges they faced.
The Cabinet at its meeting this week backed the Taoiseach's detailed plans for an Organisational Review Programme, which is to be put in place with immediate effect.
Mr Ahern said he had directed that the programme be developed last summer as part of a package of four major reform initiatives he wanted brought forward. Since then, the detailed plans have been developed.
The reviews will be overseen by a new committee, which will be made up of independent external members and senior public service figures. The committee will report directly to the Taoiseach, who indicated that he "believed that external participation in the programme will be essential for the credibility and robustness of the reviews and to ensure transparency". A final decision on the first three departments and offices to undertake the review will be made in the coming weeks.
