23 January 2009
By Paul Gosling
Poor planning delayed three major projects within the £3bn Northern Ireland civil service reform programme and led to extra costs, according to the Assembly's public accounts committee.
Paul Maskey, chair of the PAC, said: 'There is an enormous challenge ahead for the Department of Finance and Personnel to complete the implementation phases of the various reform agenda projects and to move to successful operation. In the committee's view, the department's capacity to do this is still unproven.'
In its interim report, the committee said problems with specification and procurement could have been avoided.
The projects affected were: Account NI, which centralised transaction processing through a shared service centre; HR Connect, aimed at providing personnel services from a shared service centre; and Network NI, a network service for voice, video and data communication connecting all government offices.
Another project, Workplace 2010 – intended to sell and lease back civil service accommodation – was suspended when the two shortlisted bidders, Trillium and Telereal, entered merger negotiations.
The companies have now merged and it has been reported that Workplace 2010 has been abandoned. But a spokesman for the DFP said: 'We are reviewing the programme during the suspension – which was agreed by both bidders – and will decide on a way ahead in the next few weeks.'
A legal challenge from one unsuccessful Workplace 2010 bidder led to a settlement costing the department over £1.2m.
The DFP was also criticised by the PAC for failing to provide effective project leadership and management, citing the appointment of a single individual as the senior responsible officer for four high-profile projects, including Workplace 2010.
Maskey added: 'The absence of measurable data to enable departments to identify baseline costs makes it much more difficult for DFP to demonstrate, and for the committee to assess, whether value for money has been maximised.'
PFjan2009
