Press release
Completion of Payroll Shared Services Project welcomed by Minister of State O’Donovan
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Patrick O’Donovan TD congratulated the team responsible for the completion of the Payroll Shared Services Project.
Minister O’Donovan TD said
“The completion of the Payroll Shared Services Project by the National Shared Services Office over the last four years is a huge achievement for all those involved and for everyone who supported this project to its successful conclusion.
"The establishment of the Payroll Shared Services operation has contributed to the creation of a more responsive and agile public service.”
In 2013, the provision of payroll shared services began and services were rolled out on a phased basis to groups of Government departments and offices. By the end of 2015, Payroll Shared Services had 33,000 payees, rising to 124,500 payees (of whom 60,000 are pensioners) by the completion of set up in December 2017.
Payroll Shared Services has replaced 18 payroll centres that had different versions of payroll systems with one function operating on a single technology platform. This has standardised the administration of payroll, pensions, and travel and expenses across the civil and public service.
Originally set up within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Secretary General Robert Watt said he acknowledged the achievement of the Payroll Shared Services project team and its importance as part of the digital and innovation agenda for the public service, supporting the development of data driven, evidence-based policy formulation.
In 2017, Payroll Shared Services made 3.4 million payroll payments to the value of €4.2 billion. The payroll shared services operation is based across three locations with offices in Tullamore, Killarney and Galway.
CEO of the NSSO, Hilary Murphy-Fagan said
“It’s important that we recognise the talent, commitment and dedication of our civil servants and their willingness to innovate and seek better ways of working.
"Payroll Shared Services has delivered significant benefits for the civil service, including the first online system for public service travel and expenses claims, which enables payments to be processed within a week.
"In addition, online payslips are provided to payees, and there is immediate access to payroll information, including downloadable P60 forms. This is a significant change from the hard-copy payslips and paper-based receipts of the past".
Ms Murphy-Fagan also spoke about the dedication of NSSO staff, saying
"I am extremely proud of the team who led and delivered this project and all those working in operations who worked very hard to support the smooth delivery.
"The dedication and focus of both existing and past members of the payroll project team, their NSSO colleagues and the support of the Steering Board made it possible to deliver this ambitious programme of change".
ENDS
A project is well underway to develop the shared services model for Government financial management and this will go live in 2018.
Contact
NSSO Press & Communications Unit: press@nsso.gov.ie