45126-Invest. Qual-No111

Recasting Ireland’s Consistent Policy Framework for the Coming Years● The need to make the organisational and institutional changesnecessary to achieve co-ordination of a range of cross-cuttingpolicies and organisations.This analysis is not presented as an alternative to the existingmodernisation and devolution processes in the public system. Wemust explore how new ways of combining strategic direction, localinnovation, transparency and accountability can be developed fromthe very significant change already underway in the public system,and how that can be built upon through a partnership process thatdelivers continuous adaptation and improvement in service delivery.The Council sees three sets of related organisational and institutionalchallenges: in utilities and networked sectors, planning andinfrastructure and services.FIGURE 4.1Three Sets of Institutional ChallengesUtilities and Planning and ServicesNetworked Sectors Infrastructure● Electricity; ● Spatial strategy; ● Transport;● Telecommunications; ● Infrastructure; ● Health;● Gas; ● Local planning; ● Life-long learning;● Parts of transport; ● Local partnership; ● Housing;● Waste management. ● Local development. ● Welfare;● Care services.Exploration of the best arrangements in each of these areas is acentral task for Government and the social partners. Willingness toadopt the best arrangements is the central test of social partnership.At the same time, there is little point in an agreed long-term visionand strategy if the immediate reality is not addressed in a consistentway—consistent in three senses: internally consistent policies, coordinatedaction by all partners and policy that is consistent withlong-term economic and social development. The current problems177