22 August 2003

PUBLIC SECTOR MAPS AVAILABLE ON-LINE

The public sector in Northern Ireland can now be revealed at the click of a mouse following the completion of a major exercise by the Review of Public Administration (RPA) team.

In September 2002, the RPA team commissioned Deloitte Touche to map the public sector in Northern Ireland to help the team better understand the current structures for the management and delivery of public services here. The maps are now on the RPA website on www.rpani.gov.uk.

Greg McConnell, Chief Operating Officer with the RPA said: "This is the first time that the public sector in Northern Ireland has been laid out in a way which is accessible to everyone. The maps are interactive and allow website users to click on a box representing a government department and find details about budgets, staffing and its links with other public sector organisations.

"A second set of maps entitled ‘Service to the Citizen’ focus on particular themes such as education, lifelong learning and employment. Each map contains a list of public services provided to the general public, identifies the body or bodies responsible for delivering that service, lists other stakeholders in the service, and outlines how the service fits into the Programme for Government.

"I have no doubt these maps will provide an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding how the public sector works. In particular, the RPA team will use the maps as a template against which to assess any models for new structures or arrangements for the future provision of public services in Northern Ireland."

The maps have been subjected to a stringent quality exercise. All maps have been closely scrutinised and agreed by the relevant Departments.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The maps are published on the RPA website at www.rpani.gov.uk , although hard copies are available on request. To request a hard copy contact

Tony O’Brien
Review of Public Administration
McKelvey House
25 Wellington Place
Belfast BT1 6GD
Tel: 028 9027 7603

For media queries contact Clare Baxter on 07810 440265

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