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Your questions answered
What is the Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards?
The Awards is a new, annual event to recognise staff excellence and innovation in the Civil
Service. It implements the commitment under Action 13 in the Civil Service Renewal Plan.
Every day, the Civil Service makes a vital contribution to Irish life and society. Our ability to
carry out the work of Government and deliver ‘world class’ public services is dependent on
the commitment we each make, often in challenging circumstances. The Awards will
recognise these achievements and showcase innovations in policy and service delivery
across the Civil Service.
Why introduce the Awards?
We want to improve how we recognise and celebrate success as a unified organisation. By
taking the time to do this each year through the Civil Service Excellence and Innovation
Awards, we can catalogue our achievements and increase pride and confidence in what we
do.
How will it all work?
Every civil servant is invited to nominate projects or teams for the Awards. Each nomination
will go through a review and selection process (page 2) to identify a shortlist. Finalists will be
invited to the Awards ceremony and the successful projects or teams will be announced at
the event.
Who can nominate?
Any civil servant in any Civil Service Departments/Office/Agency at any grade can nominate
a project or team they think demonstrates excellence.
What can I nominate?
Any project or team based work carried out in the Civil Service (involving staff from inside
and/or outside the Civil Service) between 1st January 2013 and 1st October 2015 is eligible
for nomination in the 2015 awards. The 2015 Award Categories (page 5) will give you
examples of the type of work that will be considered.
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Why should I take part?
The Awards will showcase and celebrate the many successful projects and team work
carried out by civil servants, throughout the country. By recognising the significant
contributions that civil servants make, we will highlight our many talents. We will also
facilitate a culture of learning from each other, and about the new innovations we are
leading. To ensure that our colleagues receive the recognition they deserve, the Selection
Committee will be reliant on you to tell us what you are most proud of in your organisation.
What is the closing date for nominations?
The closing date for nominations is the 1st of October 2015.
When will the Awards take place?
The first Awards ceremony will take place on the 3rd December 2015 in Dublin Castle.
How do I make a nomination?

Complete the short 1 page application form here.

Return a completed form electronically to the point of contact (page 10) in your
Department by the 1st October 2015.

A shortlist of nominations from your organisation will be selected by the Head of your
Department or Office before being sent to the awards team.
What information do I need to provide in my application form?
The application form is short and focused. Please complete each section to ensure that
there is enough detail to assess your nomination. There should be no more than 150 words
per section.
Do I need to select the award category for the nomination?
No. The awards team will assess the nomination and categorise it for you. All you have to do
is submit an application for a project/team that you think merits recognition. Awards may
not be provided in every category every year, this will depend on the applications received.
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How will finalists be selected?
Once the application forms have been sent to the awards team by Heads of
Departments/Offices, an initial screening exercise will be carried out. The awards team will
assign categories and score the nominations based on a predefined marking scheme to
create a shortlist. After that:

The shortlist will be published online by the 16th of November.

The successful project and teams will be decided by an external Selection Committee
of civil servants (current and former) and external business and academic members.

Successful projects and teams will be announced at the Awards.
What happens if my nomination is successful?
If your nomination is successful, the team will be recognised at the Awards with a prize
presented by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Awards will
be non-financial.
Where can I get more information?
If you require any assistance or further information in relation to awards please don’t
hesitate to contact the awards team on: [email protected] or check out our FAQs on
http://www.per.gov.ie/en/civil-service-renewal/
Important Dates
 Closing date for submissions: 1st October 2015
 Finalists announced: 16th November 2015
 The Awards: 3rd December 2015
Awards Team
The awards team consists of volunteers spanning a range of grades across multiple
Departments/Offices in the Civil Service. The team is collaborating to deliver the first Civil
Service Excellence and Innovation Awards by organising the event, reviewing the
applications, supporting the Selection Committee and answering any questions you may
have.
Volunteer Department/Offices include:

Dept. Public Expenditure and Reform.

Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
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Dept. of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Dept. of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Property Registration Authority

Dept. of Taoiseach

Dept. of Social Protection

Irish Prison Service

Public Appointments Service
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2015 Award Categories
Leading Civil Service Renewal Award
Criteria
Demonstration of Civil Service Renewal, driving change that will support an
exceptional Civil Service in the future.
For example:

More professional: A project or team that has built the right balance
of capability, talent and experience from the core strengths and
qualities of the Civil Service.

More open: A project or team that has demonstrated being open to
new ways of working, or seeking diverse inputs to policy or service
delivery.

More unified: A project or team that has demonstrated best use of
Civil Service expertise, shared resources, best practices and
collaboration of colleagues across the system.

More responsive: A project or team that demonstrated the
difference they have made using more flexible approaches with
positive feedback from their customers/colleagues.
Digital Excellence Award
Criteria
Where digital technology has been used to improve systems, processes or
services.
For example:

Improving business processes to bring realised benefits to service
users.

Improving communications to improve engagement either
throughout their Department or further afield.

Improving how policy is created and delivered using technology.

A web app created for colleagues/customers which delivers more
efficient services and/or greater ease of access to information.
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Insight & Analysis Award
Criteria
Recognition of excellence in the field of analysis and use of evidence.
For example:

Improving results by placing robust evidence and analysis at the
heart of the decision–making process.

Capturing knowledge and data from a wide variety of disciplines
and sources, including from inside and outside Government where
appropriate, and using this information to influence policy
development and deliver better results for end users.

Ensuring that learning is captured and can be disseminated to
others to help spread good practice elsewhere.

Using management information to improve decision making and/or
services to the customer.
Excellence in Policy Award
Criteria
Demonstration of bringing different strands of policy making together and
making a real difference to practical delivery, customer/user experience or
cost effectiveness.
For example:

A more open and engaging approach to policy making that involves
customers, citizens and stakeholders as part of better policy making.

Overcoming challenges through creative problem solving across a
range of issues.

Potential for positive impact on people and/or service provision.

Making a real difference in practical delivery or cost effectiveness.

Projects or teams utilising new and innovative digital tools/platforms
to progress policy work.
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Excellence in Customer Service Award
Criteria
Where the customer has been placed at the centre of the design and
delivery of policy and/or services.
For example:
 Evidence that services to the customers have been greatly improved
via customer feedback.
 Delivery of efficient, effective and seamless services whilst
maintaining a strong Civil Service ethic.
 More efficient/effective customer experiences; e.g. via online services
or improved customer handling procedures.
Excellence in Innovation Award
Criteria
Demonstration of excellence in innovation.

For example:
 Where a project or team demonstrated how they have made
improvements by challenging the status quo and trying something
new.
 Where a project or team decided to stop doing what didn’t work, and
made changes to ensure that the organisation learned and improved
from it.
 Where a project or team demonstrated innovative approaches through
the use of research, creative concepts and new policy development.
 Where a project or team successfully piloted a new approach to build
better evidence about what works.
Excellence in Skills Development Award
Criteria
Demonstration of excellence in promoting skills development.
For example:
 Evidence of a significant and sustainable demonstration of increased
skills and knowledge sharing.
 Positive business outcomes achieved as a direct consequence of upskilling.
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 Evidence of embedded good practices in determining ongoing
development needs and real innovation in addressing them.

Excellence through Collaboration Award
Criteria
Excellence through collaboration across multiple Departments, teams,
agencies or sectors where the collaboration played a significant role in the
success of an initiative.
For example:

Collaboration with multiple stakeholders to generate ideas and solve
important problems.

Combination of skills across multiple stakeholders that worked
together with a goal to produce new/improved services, processes or
outcomes.

Combinations of technologies, applications or services to reduce cost,
increase efficiency or increase a solutions value.
World Class Civil Service Award
Criteria
Demonstration of teams/projects that are a source of inspiration to other
public administrations. They are innovative, demonstrate leadership
abilities and aim to significantly contribute to the ongoing development of
the Irish Civil Service.
For example:
 They show outstanding dedication to their work while maintaining a
high level of commitment to Civil Service values and ethics.
 They are a model of inspiration to other employees in their dedication
to excellence.
 They have motivated other colleagues to succeed.
 They demonstrate leadership and openness in their work.
 Demonstrate excellence at an international level.
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Outstanding Contribution Award
Criteria
Recognition of the work that has been performed in an exemplary manner
under extraordinary circumstances.
For example:

Demonstration of leadership and commitment in the face of
adversity; i.e., improvements made during economic recession or
where there was a considerable impact on staff/public.
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Departmental Points of Contact
Department
Email
Dept. Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
[email protected]
Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government [email protected]
Dept. of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
[email protected]
Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
[email protected]
Central Statistics Office
[email protected]
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
[email protected]
Dept. of Education and Skills
[email protected]
Dept. of Justice and Equality
[email protected]
Dept. of Justice and Equality
[email protected]
Dept. of Social Protection
[email protected]
Dept. of Transport, Tourism and Sport
[email protected]
Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[email protected]
Dept. of Defence
[email protected]
Dept. of Taoiseach
[email protected]
Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform
[email protected]
Office of Public Works
[email protected]
Dept. of Health
[email protected]
Dept. of Finance
[email protected]
Dept. of Agriculture, Food & the Marine
[email protected]
State Laboratory
[email protected]
Dept. of Children and Youth Affairs
[email protected]
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