Reduce Organisational Silos
In keeping with the spirit of the Ministerial Pledge of Office, the Northern Ireland political parties, supported by the Northern Ireland Civil Service, should together agree a set of actions to reduce organisational silos arising between the government Departments and their linked public bodies and to promote behaviours of collaboration and joined-up departmental working in the interests of the whole Northern Ireland community.
- The NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024) assessed this recommendation as "Likely to be Implemented", upgrading it from "Unlikely" in the first progress report, noting that a Shared Leadership Board had been established between Departments and Arm's Length Bodies, though further work was needed to reduce organisational silos fully (NIAO Second Progress Report, October 2024).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
Accepted[Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 5-7, 25, 37, 39-43 together as a group under the 'Ministers and Special Advisers' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full, with the exception of the consideration of an independent mechanism to assess special advisers' compliance with the Code of Conduct. They have been addressed through work to date, including: revisions to the Ministerial Code of Conduct, Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and NICS Code of Ethics, and the introduction of new Guidance for Ministers; the publication of new enforcement arrangements for ministerial standards of behaviour; agreement on the development of a multi-year outcomes-focussed Programme for Government, aligned with the Budget, including stakeholder engagement and consultation; departmental induction and briefing for Ministers on the return of the Executive, and Executive away-days; the strengthening of Private Offices including the higher grading of the Private Secretary and Assistant Private Secretary roles; identification of the team where matters of policy in respect of Special Advisers are to be dealt with. Further work is required to: deliver induction programmes for Ministers and for special advisers; arrange for publication of relevant interests of civil servants.
Progress Timeline
NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024): Likely to be Implemented. Upgraded from 'Unlikely' in the 2022 assessment. Shared Leadership Board established between Departments and Arm's Length Bodies, Programme for Government themes demonstrating cross-departmental collaboration, and revised codes requiring collaborative working. NIAO welcomes the progress made.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
NIAO identified reducing organisational silos as one of 3 recommendations requiring additional work. The mandatory coalition structure of the NI Executive inherently creates departmental silos along party lines.
View detailed findings
Cross-departmental collaboration and silo-reduction remain unreformed. NIAO identified RHI-37 as one of three recommendations requiring additional work. The mandatory coalition structure where different parties control different departments creates inherent barriers to joined-up working.