Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Responsibilities of the Secretary General

Under the Public Service Management Act 1997 (No.27 of 1997), the Secretary General of the department has the following responsibilities:

managing the business generally of the department
implementing Government policies appropriate to the department
providing policy advice to the Minister on all matters within the remit of the department
preparing Statements of Strategy for submission to the Minister
providing progress reports to the Minister on the implementation of the Statement of Strategy
ensuring proper use of resources and the provision of cost-effective public services
preparing an outline of how specific responsibilities are to be assigned to other officers in the department
managing matters relating to appointments, performance, discipline and dismissal of civil servants below the grade of Principal or its equivalent

Section 4(1) of the Public Service Management Act empowers the Secretary General to assign to other officers of the department (or grade or grades of officer) responsibility for the performance of his or her functions. The revised framework, as set out in this document, constitutes a consolidated statement as at May 2018 of all assignments under the Act by the Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Interpretation of this document and the assignments herein should have due regard to the factors which from time to time affect the distribution and discharge of responsibilities across the department. This includes the exigencies of work in a particular area, the alignment of activities spanning or involving more than one area, and the co-ordination of shared or related responsibilities. It should also have regard to the assignment of functions in respect of appointments, performance and discipline of personnel under the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956-2005 which are made from time to time by the Secretary General under separate regulations.

Part 3 of this framework document shows the assignment of responsibility for the performance of functions to each individual officer down to and including Principal level. The responsibilities so assigned are articulated through the department's system of Divisional business plans to reflect the priorities and objectives of the department, as set out in its Statement of Strategy. The assignment of responsibility for the performance of functions by individual officers, or grade or grades of officer, below Principal level shall be handled administratively on the basis of the personal (or team) work objectives identified under or associated with the department’s Divisional business plans. The latter, which are reviewed and updated on an annual basis to keep pace with changing needs and priorities, are informed both by the department's Statement of Strategy and by its Performance Management and Development System. They provide a practical means of prioritising and managing the day-to-day work of the department at unit, team and individual level.

Subject to overall budgetary provisions, officers to whom responsibilities have been assigned under this framework will receive the appropriate resources and infrastructural support to enable them to fulfil their obligations under the Act.

Assignments under Section 4(1) of the Public Service Management Act, as specified in this framework document, will continue to be amended from time to time, in writing, by the Secretary General and the framework will be deemed to have been updated accordingly.