Statement of Strategy 2008 - 2010
"Our mission is to promote a caring society through income and other support services, enabling active participation in society, promoting social inclusion and supporting families."
CONTENTS
Foreword from the Minister
Preface from the Secretary General
Our Mission and Mandate
Our Values and Guiding Principles
Environmental Analysis
Our High Level Goals
Goal 1: Children and Families
Goal 2: People of Working Age
Goal 3: Retired and Older People
Goal 4: People with Disabilities
Goal 5: Poverty and Social Inclusion
Goal 6: Identity Management and Secure Access to Services
Goal 7: Operational Capabilities and Modernisation
Monitoring and Reporting on the progress of our Statement of Strategy
Appendices
Appendix 1 Organisation Structure Chart-June 2008
Appendix 2 Agreed Programme for Government commitments relevent to the Department of Social and Family Affairs
Appendix 3 Table of Key Linkages
Foreword from the Minister
I welcome this Statement of Strategy which I have agreed with the Secretary General of the Department. It is a framework for the delivery of a wide range of initiatives and it identifies our high level goals and defines the strategic objectives and actions which we will pursue over the period 2008 to 2010 to achieve them.
The work of the Department impacts on almost every person in the State. It administers some 50 different schemes and services with over 1.5 million people benefiting from weekly payments and over 580,000 families receiving child benefit in respect of 1.1 million children each month. In addition to our income support responsibilities, we are also actively engaged, in co-operation with a range of other Departments and Agencies, in supporting those who are unemployed, lone parents and people with a disability to avail of opportunities to get back to work, education or training in order to assist them in participating fully in society.
This Statement of Strategy sets out our ambitious programme of work for the next three years and is fully reflective of Government policy as outlined in the Agreed Programme for Government, Towards 2016, the National Development Plan and the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. I look forward to working with the staff of the Department to ensure that together we build on what has already been accomplished and to achieve our mission to promote a caring society through income and other support services, enabling active participation in society, promoting social inclusion and supporting families.
Oireann an seanfhocal "Ní neart go cur le chéile" don Roinn seo agus, le chéile, oibreoimid ar son phobal na tíre.
Mary Hanafin T.D.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs
Preface from the Secretary General
This is the Department of Social and Family Affairs’ sixth Statement of Strategy. In drawing up this document we have built on our previous Statements of Strategy, taken account of developments as reflected in our annual reports and have had regard to the changes in the social and economic environment in which we work. We have engaged also in a consultation process involving both our staff and our stakeholders.
The Statement of Strategy 2008 – 2010 has been informed by the Agreed Programme for Government, Towards 2016 - the Social Partnership Agreement, the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 and the National Development Plan 2007-2013. It describes the mission, high level goals and key strategies and actions which we will pursue in delivering the policies and priorities as set down by the Minister and the Government. It sets out the approach, based around the lifecycle, we will adopt in supporting our diverse customer groups through a range of income supports and in facilitating them to maximise their participation in society.
The environment in which we operate is changing at a fast pace and over the next three years economic, social and demographic changes will place new and increased demands on our services. the decentralisation programme and the transfer of certain functions from the Department of health/HSE to this Department pose significant human and operational challenges for us.
In this Statement of Strategy we have set out an ambitious agenda which will enable us to respond in creative and innovative ways to these challenges. Over the coming years we will review our organisational structure, enhance our governance and accelerate our modernisation programme to ensure we continue to deliver our policies and services efficiently and effectively and to the highest standards.
In recent years, with the support and co-operation of our staff, we made significant progress in enhancing services to our customers through a comprehensive programme of change and modernisation. I look forward to working with the Minister, Mary Hanafin T.D. and with all the staff in the Department in delivering the challenging agenda set out in this Statement of Strategy.
Bernadette Lacey
Secretary General