Workers Party Regional Spokesperson Nicola Grant has reacted angrily to the Auditor’s Report, which indicates the civil service is going backwards—costing more while outcomes worsen.

Grant said the public will quite rightly be angry at the details in the report, given that the Executive parties have consistently claimed they could not deliver on the commitments contained in the Programme for Government (PFG).

The standard response has always been that they did not receive enough money from Westminster; while this may be the case, the problems highlighted in the audit report indicate a serious lack of financial oversight by ministers regarding the failure of civil servants to deliver in key areas.

Grant stated that ministers have the overall responsibility for ensuring that key targets are met and that PFG commitments are delivered. The governance arrangements within departments appear non-existent, as does the leadership. It was, after all, the Executive Office that decided to change the recruitment process for the Head of the Civil Service and other senior roles, looking to the private sector and greatly enhancing salaries to attract "necessary talent and skills."

The Workers Party has consistently criticised the government’s preference for the private sector. Permanent Secretaries, who provide staff leadership, are in some cases changing on a yearly basis. The Department of Finance is currently paying for two Permanent Secretaries while only one is active in the role. Promised reforms of how the service operates have not been implemented, and the Head of the Civil Service was given a huge salary increase for "satisfactory performance" without an actual assessment being carried out.

This lack of due diligence is disgraceful.

Grant noted it is also extremely worrying that there are 5,000 agency staff despite over 5,000 vacancies existing. Temporary promotions, which can become long-term, have reached over 3,000; this is a breach of fair employment laws and must be stopped. It is unfair to those placed in these positions and to other staff who wish to apply for legitimate promotion and career opportunities.

Grant concluded by saying it is unsurprising, given the circumstances, that sickness levels have risen and staff morale is low. Taking a year to fill a vacancy because the service relies on a single private company is totally unacceptable. The recommendations from the Audit Office must now be implemented as a matter of urgency. There is clearly a skills deficit, which likely accounts for the constant use of outside consultants at a considerable cost to the public purse.