Leading public service reform: Some reflections

The past decade has been a period of intense reform, bookended by two crises of seismic proportions – the troika bailout of Ireland in 2010 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. This paper details the reforms which have been led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform over the past decade. Also, drawing on Robert Watt’s reflections of leading public service reform, it sets out lessons learned and factors which we regard as necessary to ensuring successful reform. Finally, a range of priority areas for the future are identified.