The civil service should be radically reformed as part of the Government's National Development Plan, a leading business body said today.
Chambers Ireland said overhauling the sector would help ensure the efficiency needed to deliver the ambitious project.
In a submission on the National Development Plan, Chambers chief executive John Dunne said its success would depend on the professionalism and skills base of public servants.
"New systems must be established which better facilitate the recruitment of specialist skills in areas such as statistical analysis, project management, IT etc," he said.
"To deliver on the NDP 2007-2013, on top of key institutional requirements such as the enactment of the Strategic Infrastructure Bill, we must also secure open recruitment to all levels within the public service.
"Specialist posts requiring open recruitment from the private sector and identified as areas of skills shortage within the public sector should be filled immediately," he said.
Chambers said there were a lack of statistics to drive public policy due to the under-resourcing of the Central Statistics Office.
PA