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THE GOVERNMENT HAS today piloted a new website, Ireland Stat, aimed at monitoring whole-Government performance as part of a pledge contained in the Programme for Government to be more transparent, accountable and efficient.
When taking office, the current Government pledged to pin down accountability at every level of the public service – and this new website aims to show whether this promise is being upheld.
“Ireland Stat draws on existing publicly available measures, bringing them together into one website in a clear and logical way,” said the Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Service Reform, Brian Hayes. “This website is a significant step forward – it brings real innovation to how we hold the Government to account.”
Insisting the website would “deliver accountability directly to the public”, Hayes added: “We’re starting small with a pilot, as we want to walk before we run, but we hope to roll the website out to cover all areas of Government next year.”
The website, which is currently in trial mode, was based on ‘best international practice’, according to Hayes. It aims to tap into the wide collections of data collected across the public service that already exist and present them in one place, in a coherent, understandable way.
It will monitor the Government’s performance on specific goals, including achievements, actions, costs, international comparisons, and trends over time.
The pilot site focuses on four policy areas:
The website also looks at seven programmes:
Ireland Stat will be assessed during November and December – and, conditional on the outcome of the review period, it will be extended to all policy areas during 2013.
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So a government website run by the government is going to give a performance review of the government….. Like a leaving student getting his hands on a blank signed leaving certificate for him to fill out….
Set up your own website so.
Stephen that is a stupid comment . The point been made is very valid considering the lies that the Irish govt spit out everyday. It should be independently run.
It’s not a stupid comment Declan. Complain, complain, complain. If you’re willing to say something isn’t good enough then you better be willing to offer a better solution. I’m pretty sick of listening to people take everything that is given to them, rip it apart and then ask for more. Do it your bloody self if you want something better or else shut up. Giving out about the government is about the easiest and most populist thing that you can do and that’s why so many people do it.
That’s pretty blunt Stephen, but bang on the money. It had to be said so fair play on saying it.
This website is going to be nothing but biased towards the government so worthless! Bit like RTE, a waste of a tv licence!
I would give this more credit if it was monitored and run by an independent body that has an even cross party split of adjudicators!!
Dead right Stephen, fair play
Well said Stephen.
Stephen,
People don’t need a Government website to tell them that nothing has changed since Fg/Lab came to power, despite all the promises made,
This Government was elected because it offered a better solution.
Where do you get off telling people to shut up? People give out about the Gov with damn good reason and have every right to whether you like it or not.
Every government should be open to critique. It’s not like they’re singing a song on The X Factor that someone doesn’t like, they make promises through rhetoric so as people vote for them and make decisions that impact everybody’s lives. If people feel betrayed or in this case see a tool of propaganda, they are entitled to vent their agreement or disagreement.
Here’s a novel idea…get the leader, his Ministers and TDs to go on current affairs programs where their claims and spin can actually be challenged. That’s openness and accountability, this is more spin.
Triple “A” all round no doubt. Why not just ask the Germans to assess ?
Stephen! You seem to be forgetting what this government promised us in order to get elected. The 5 point plan that would create 100,000 jobs for example. Then the “not one more red cent” to bond holders promise. The very fact that they are still paying bond holders, and no one has heard about the 5 point plan since, absolutely entitles us to moan and bitch about them. They lied their way to power, so therefore they deserve all the abuse they get. I’d go as far in saying that they’re lucky that its only verbal abusehav
Stats don’t lie!?
This anyone find the idea of this propaganda site at the expense of the tax-payer nauseating? Unless this site is run independently, it’s a complete waste of time.
Nice propaganda website. Should be independently run.
Openness and clarity is always welcome. Need more information.
Noticed there is no health stats and the stats that health look very dubious… Three metrics are 100%… Large org don’t get a 100% often…
Any idea of the costs for the site setup and how many staff dedicated to keeping it up to date?
Ffs! Jesus! This same aul shite is just getting sickening at this stage. Nothing new can be done anymore without someone giving out about the cost. Sure why don’t we just turn the place into an island version of North Korea. Would you be happy then?
I think it’s a relevant question. If it’s within industry norms there should be no problem.
And where did I give out about the cost?
Agree with Donacha here! How much can a website of this nature possibly cost!?! I’d imagine operational & start-up costs are minimal along with the staffing to maintain the site! Give it a rest!
What is your point?
@nuffsaid – where this government is involved a website like this would be a very lucrative contract for someone- wee brown envelope wink wink
Thats if the normal tendering procedures where followed
I’d say it’d be in the thousands as opposed to tens of thousands bracket!! I’m not condoning wastage but how lucrative could it be!! Not that much methinks!!
Good question. Knowing how the government always pay over the odds and job for the boys is still rampant. Still a waste of time.
Accountable- really? Yet they won’t be accountable for €500,000 they EACH will get next year and in coming years, and Irish people are left to starve and rot.
http://www.change.org/petitions/supporting-the-irish-nation-step-down-from-government
If the Taoiseach sneezed, some of these commentators would be on hand for a good bitch and whine over if the tissue were expensed and if so was it from Dunnes and why not Lidl.
Your comments are hilariously bad.
The most important area of accountability, Finance, is not included. Amazingly, “Economy” with the € sign only covers innovation, jobs and agri foods. Nowhere to pin accountability on €25 billion current budget deficit!
What about rating the performance of our TD’s? Let’s have an open website on this. Let the general public have their say.
Why is their no mention of outward migration – that’s their proudest achievement yet!!!
Its an interesting developement. Lets see how it works. But Rommel makes an excellent point.
A site set up to monitor Government performance should probably have analytics setup themselves… just saying…
I was kinda hoping there would be more user input.. Like, let us know what isn’t working, let us know what is.. We always complain that our politicians don’t understand what affects us, it’s a pity they couldn’t offer a survey or feedback section.. At present the only feedback is on the website and the way t works..
We need an Annual Citizens Council, so we can meet yearly and address issues that need to be discussed. Then pass a motion, calling on Government to address an issue concerning the Citizens!
Great idea……but probably too progressive for this crowd
Well said Stephen! But the FG aka FF aka Lab have their heads so far down in the sand that this will fall on deaf ears.
FG/LAB think they are doing great!! yeah great for the upper classes and the banks – If this is was a score card I would give them an “NG” for looking after their people
there is potential the website will lead to spin, the next election result will answer the question of performance, get on with the job and forget these silly optics.
A great sign of a transparent and accountable government, well done Fine Gael.
Sorry but zero transparency…. Primary care ring any bells:-)…. We need radical reform in this country,until certain aspects of our society are fixed and people take their hands out of the till re: salary, expenses and pensions we will. not move forward sadly. Yes Fine Gael have a massive task but if they can’t take the heat get out if the kitchen…. I wonder what the governments policy is with regards to OUR resources finds… Massive industry that has potential for major employment.. Get it sorted
FGF, Do you like to congratulate liars?
Emmet, all I see is far-left dictatorship lunacy in your comment not one bit about how much this government allows itself to be held to account like a forward-moving government does. No part of society needs to be “fixed”, that’s horrid talk. The government have being elected by the people for the people and are working for the people.
Stephen, I’m congratulating a fair, progressive, transparent and accountable government putting Ireland’s reputation in the right place. You seem to assume that if another party spent like FF it wouldn’t have the same result as FF, well it would and that’s why this government is not giving into the pressures of the far-left opposition parties and alliances.
Haha far left….. How wrong you are.I do not believe in the fairy tale economics of the left. Sadly this governement are inept. Spin, lies are just the tip of the iceberg. No plan on how to get our domestic economy going again and toothless when it comes to negotiating. I hope they prove me wrong but I think not…..
Does anyone disagree with the figures presented? If you’re going to accuse the site of spin, some examples would be nice.
The site is far from spin when you look at it. Under Jobs and Enterprise development you can see that our place on the world ease of doing business index is “worsening” as is the value of FDI in Ireland.
No Harm David but I doubt everything that comes out of Enda & Co’s mouths!
There is absolutely no value to this website. As I stated above these type of sites need to be managed by independent and unbiased bodies to have any credibility.
They bullshitted their way into power and I even voted for them hoping they would be different but they are not. They are as corrupt as Fianna Fail and as deceitful with utter contempt for the Irish People.
Ok I’ll reserve judgement until all the “data” has been put up. Looking forward to the info on primary care, emigration, bondholder payment values in particular.
and health .
Funny the way a green arrow up, on their website, means ‘improving’ rather than ‘increasing’. So you get “Number of road fatalities?’ big green up arrow beside it: I am still unsure as whether it means increasing or improving (surely not both!).
It is very confusing…
there is no mention of health, which they say they are reconfiguring with new management structures and getting rid of HSE, surely to god that should be one of the priorities to monitor?
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