- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2021
Post-COVID-19 Review of Organisational Structures in the Irish Civil and Public Service
This project, supported by the European Union, evaluated the Irish Civil and Public Service’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, identifying lessons to sustain future reforms.
Context
The Irish Civil and Public Service showcased resilience, flexibility, and innovation during these crises, demonstrating effective leadership, collaboration, and digital transformation. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) commissioned this review to embed key learnings into ongoing reforms, ensuring responsiveness to future challenges.
Support delivered
The project analysed six successful case studies:
1. Videolink in the Irish Courts System – Enabled remote court appearances, improving access to justice.
2. COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – Delivered a nationwide vaccination rollout with strong governance and public communication.
3. Contact Tracing App & EU Digital COVID Certificate – Leveraged technology for effective health monitoring and travel facilitation.
4. Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) – Supported Ukrainian families by securing school placements and language resources.
5. Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) – Provided rapid financial assistance to those affected by unemployment.
6. Community Call – Mobilised local authorities and volunteers to assist vulnerable individuals with essential services.
Results achieved
Key findings highlighted 20 areas of positive ways of working change during the crises, including key drivers of success in areas such as motivation and connection to purpose, distributed leadership, network governance, change management, and communications.
This project provides valuable insights into sustaining reforms to enhance resilience, efficiency, and adaptability in the Irish Civil and Public Service.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: