Really Excellent Public Services in Ireland that aren't Shambolic

Tpcl20 · 06-05-2021 7:34pm #1

How about a thread to discuss all of the brilliant services run by the Government of Ireland - ones which are operating at full pelt, running smoothly and provide a crucial lifeline to people.

I would start what I'd imagine will be an extensive list but I'm just trying to think of one there.

Here are the government depts listed on https://www.gov.ie/en/help/departments/

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Department of Defence

Department of Education

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Department of Finance

Department of Foreign Affairs

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Department of Health

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Department of Justice

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Department of Rural and Community Development

Department of Social Protection

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Department of the Taoiseach

Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Department of Transport

Does anybody have a complimentary review of one of the 209 agencies which operate within those?

Tpcl20 · 06-05-2021 7:58pm

Don't all jump at once.

Ok, here are some: https://www.citizensinformationboard.ie/en/

MABS is actually very helpful when you contact them
https://www.mabs.ie/en/

and I got assistance from the FLAC as well which was great.

https://www.flac.ie/

gameoverdude · 06-05-2021 8:00pm

Revenue are good.

For Forks Sake · 06-05-2021 8:04pm

Revenue are extremely efficient in all aspects of their work.

Motor tax has improved immeasurably since it went online and centralised in Shannon, rather than the previous joke-shop of a system having to deal with individual county councils.

06-05-2021 8:09pm

Public libraries in Ireland are excellent.

PieOhMy · 06-05-2021 8:10pm

Libraries deliver in their classic remit of books but also newer media and seem to aid those without Internet and computer access with their needs.

Stovepipe · 06-05-2021 8:10pm

Coiste an Asgard, when it existed. A tiny sub office of the Dept of Defence,with a staff of four, it ran the Asgard II very efficiently and thousands of people, me included, got to sail on her and it ran like clockwork. A dreadful pity that it was lost and not replaced.

Stovepipe · 06-05-2021 8:11pm

Museums. We do them well, for the most part.

Economics101 · 06-05-2021 8:12pm

Foreign Affairs are fine for passports, or at least were until Covid put them in a tailspin

Fighting Irish · 06-05-2021 8:13pm

An Post are fairly nifty

James Bond Junior · 06-05-2021 8:15pm

Irish Water. I had issues with the main sewage line in my house, backing up and so on. A phone call into IW and the jetting truck was out literally within minutes in one case but at most within hours. No fuss, mess cleaned up and a phone call the following day to check in and see everything was done properly. A jetting truck costs hundreds in a call out alone, I never had to pay a cent even though the blockage (a drain rod left behind by a previous owner) was on my line but outside my boundary wall. I paid for a cctv to go down and once I told them what it was, within a week it was removed and I didn't have to pay a cent. Fantastic service.

Archeron · 06-05-2021 8:17pm

Revenue and citizens advice, the opw but as a visitor to their sites, I've never dealt with them.
I like our museums and galleries and the strange and varied places you find art, like the big steel polo mint rolling down a hill near kinnegad.

Del2005 · 06-05-2021 8:20pm

How can you say the Department of Health is well run when we've hundreds on trolleys, struggle to recruit front-line staff, send files in taxis, have the most expensive children's hospital being built and have multiples of rolls duplicated in the HSE from the merger of the health boards with no redundancies?

whisky_galore · 06-05-2021 8:25pm

Stovepipe wrote: »

Museums. We do them well, for the most part.

Yes and no.
Limerick city museum not open on weekends, come on like. Huge space that the small pathetic selection of items on view are lost in.

Cork, remote for tourists and pretty poor quality and quantity of displays considering it's a major city.

hmmm · 06-05-2021 8:35pm

Revenue are pretty good. I've found them relatively easy to deal with over the years, and even after admitting to making a mistake (timing) they were very considerate that it was a complex area.

whiskeyman · 06-05-2021 8:37pm

Passport office were fantastic times I've used them.
Easy to contact on twitter also.

06-05-2021 8:39pm

I've had foreign friends here comment on how good Revenue is compared to back home.

Tpcl20 · 06-05-2021 9:42pm

Stovepipe wrote: »

Museums. We do them well, for the most part.

Having dealt with them from a commercial standpoint (supplied goods to them) they are a NIGHTMARE to deal with. But I do love going to them.

I wish there were more, and more ambitious cultural centres outside of Dublin. Galway's one is great, and the Heritage centre in Cobh.

The staff in Revenue are great but waiting on the phone line can be a nightmare at times. The advice I've gotten from them has been top notch. There was a time when an error was made with my payslip somehow and they assured me it was fine when I rang. Two years later, I ended up having to pay back €60 each paycheque for a whole year which was less than satisfactory.

bureau2009 · 06-05-2021 9:47pm

On an individual basis we have *some* great health care staff. Likewise for *some* teachers.

Mike Murdock · 06-05-2021 10:08pm

Revenue have been excellent any time I have needed to use them. Very helpful, and will go the extra mile to help.

Thelonious Monk · 06-05-2021 10:21pm

Revenue are a dream to deal with compared to her majesty's or other tax offices I've dealt with abroad. So easy to get money back from Revnue if you move abroad or register with a new employer, it can be a bureaucratic nightmare in other countries.

gmisk · 06-05-2021 10:34pm

gameoverdude wrote: »

Revenue are good.

I would second revenue.
They have a terrific ICT section which has been extremely well invested in which helps.

gmisk · 06-05-2021 10:35pm

Archeron wrote: »

Revenue and citizens advice, the opw but as a visitor to their sites, I've never dealt with them.
I like our museums and galleries and the strange and varied places you find art, like the big steel polo mint rolling down a hill near kinnegad.

OPW...waste a lot of money....a lot

Munurty · 06-05-2021 10:53pm

I don't think everyone will agree but I think the RSA has made huge progress since in inception in 2006.

Road deaths have halved since 2006.
The NCT has taken hundreds of thousands of death traps off our roads.
The CVRT has made hauliers step up to much higher standards.

Haulers are now given risk rating scores based on their performance in road worthiness tests, site audits and roadside inspections. The worse their score the more they will be inspected.

From what I can see all of the above services are online and digitised also. From driving tests to NCT, CVRT tests and driving licenses.

I don't think it gets enough recognition.

Another service which I would have seen as world class was our Coast Guard helicopter service. Granted we pay Canadian CHC helicopters to operate the service but the state of the art massively equipped helicopters and their crews are such an amazing resource to have. Unfortunately the fatal crash of Rescue 116 in 2017 highlighted multiple failures, nevertheless they are constantly saving lives.

Cluedo Monopoly · 06-05-2021 11:06pm

Revenue are good for obvious reasons.

Education, Agriculture and OPW still back in the stone age.

EddieN75 · 06-05-2021 11:11pm

I went to the department of agriculture in portlaoise two years ago for paperwork. They close for a 2 hour lunch. Honestly look it up

RulesOfNature · 07-05-2021 4:18am

Revenue is there to take your money. To praise and cheer them on is bizarre.

They are efficient at taking your money. To fund the world’s most expensive hospital. Being built during a worldwide economic recession caused by a pandemic. Go figure.

suicide_circus · 07-05-2021 4:26am

The OPW put on some magnificant floral displays in parks around the country, really top notch.

A relative of mine would have to interact with Revenue through work quite a bit and says they are nowhere near as on the ball as when dealing wigh them on a personal level.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 07-05-2021 4:46am

RulesOfNature wrote: »

They are efficient at taking your money.

Very true, but I applied for a refund of tax there a few months ago from 2018 as I only worked about 42 weeks in the year and moved abroad and would have overpaid tax. I think the refund was in my bank 3 or 4 days later. Very efficient at returning your money when it's due, in fairness.

Mantis Toboggan · 07-05-2021 7:24am

CAB

tom1ie · 07-05-2021 7:58am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Yes and no.
Limerick city museum not open on weekends, come on like. Huge space that the small pathetic selection of items on view are lost in.

Cork, remote for tourists and pretty poor quality and quantity of displays considering it's a major city.

Corks a major city?

screamer · 07-05-2021 8:03am

Don’t find revenue good. Hard to get through and there are often people who don’t have a clue. I find your experience very much depends on the ability of the person you deal with, and is at best hit and miss.

Lately I’ve found the civil registration service to be great and really efficient.

WrenBoy · 07-05-2021 8:19am

The HEA's Springboard programmes have been very effective in my opinion. I've had friends and relations get some really great opportunities through it and they speak very highly of it.

Mav11 · 07-05-2021 8:55am

suicide_circus wrote: »

The OPW put on some magnificant floral displays in parks around the country, really top notch.

The OPW are fantastic at what they do, parks, buildings, heritage sites etc., but their sense of value for taxpayers money is non existent. Some of their overspends and inefficiencies are eye watering and it doesn't seem to bother them.

Mav11 · 07-05-2021 8:55am

tom1ie wrote: »

Corks a major city?

It is!

thebiggestjim · 07-05-2021 9:05am

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote: »

Very true, but I applied for a refund of tax there a few months ago from 2018 as I only worked about 42 weeks in the year and moved abroad and would have overpaid tax. I think the refund was in my bank 3 or 4 days later. Very efficient at returning your money when it's due, in fairness.

I agree Revenue are well run and much better that tax authorities in other countries. On the point above, why do you have to apply to get your money back? They know you overpaid, it should be refunded automatically. Revenue would really impress me if they automatically refunded money owed.

relax carry on · 07-05-2021 9:51am

thebiggestjim wrote: »

I agree Revenue are well run and much better that tax authorities in other countries. On the point above, why do you have to apply to get your money back? They know you overpaid, it should be refunded automatically. Revenue would really impress me if they automatically refunded money owed.

It's because Revenue know what's provided to them by your employer. If they automatically refunded overpayments of PAYE (which shouldn't really be occurring as much as they used to because of real time reporting), and you subsequently have a tax liability in the year because of that side income you forgot to declare etc, that wouldn't exactly be that efficient. Your refund may also be higher because you might be claiming additional tax reliefs.
Revenue in the last year or two provide preliminary statements of liability for all PAYE employees meaning you will know if an overpayment/liability exists at year end based in the information Revenue have. It's preliminary because you might be declaring additional income/claiming additional reliefs etc.
By filing your end of year tax return you are making a legal declaration to Revenue that's all the Income you have and you are entitled to credits/reliefs you have claimed.

Economics101 · 07-05-2021 10:01am

RulesOfNature wrote: »

Revenue is there to take your money. To praise and cheer them on is bizarre.

They are efficient at taking your money. To fund the world’s most expensive hospital. Being built during a worldwide economic recession caused by a pandemic. Go figure.

Revenue are also good at giving money back. Last year I got an unexpected refund after I had filed and paid everything electronically on a P11 form. I had miscalculated one item to my disadvantage.

silverharp · 07-05-2021 10:02am

Some good online services, ROS is easy to use, getting my last Passport was simple and really quick.

silverharp · 07-05-2021 10:07am

I would say the NCT but last time when I couldnt find my driving licence I went down with my Passport and they wouldnt accept it as ID which I found peculiar, they would accept some public service card but that looked like a pain to apply for

thebiggestjim · 07-05-2021 10:15am

relax carry on wrote: »

It's because Revenue know what's provided to them by your employer. If they automatically refunded overpayments of PAYE (which shouldn't really be occurring as much as they used to because of real time reporting), and you subsequently have a tax liability in the year because of that side income you forgot to declare etc, that wouldn't exactly be that efficient. Your refund may also be higher because you might be claiming additional tax reliefs.
Revenue in the last year or two provide preliminary statements of liability for all PAYE employees meaning you will know if an overpayment/liability exists at year end based in the information Revenue have. It's preliminary because you might be declaring additional income/claiming additional reliefs etc.
By filing your end of year tax return you are making a legal declaration to Revenue that's all the Income you have and you are entitled to credits/reliefs you have claimed.

Makes sense. One may have other income to consider and real time reporting will certainly help. Forget what I said, all is forgiven Revenue.

enda1 · 07-05-2021 12:22pm

Mav11 wrote: »

The OPW are fantastic at what they do, parks, buildings, heritage sites etc., but their sense of value for taxpayers money is non existent. Some of their overspends and inefficiencies are eye watering and it doesn't seem to bother them.

The opening times of parks is also absolutely abysmal!
Take Iveagh Gardens for example, doesn't open till 8am, and 10am on Sundays and public holidays. That's ludicrous. Winter closing at half 3 or 4, then they reach the lofty heights of 6 in the summer.

A virtually useless commodity for those who pay for it (workers)

07-05-2021 1:21pm

WrenBoy wrote: »

The HEA's Springboard programmes have been very effective in my opinion. I've had friends and relations get some really great opportunities through it and they speak very highly of it.

I'd have a very different view on them but maybe I was just unlucky. Did 2 courses up to post grad level through Springboard, 2 different colleges and both times they were lectured by inexperienced people and stunk of being cobbled together for HEA money.

Thats not to say I didn't get anything out of them but the later of the courses I did was absolutely shambolic in it's delivery.

An Ri rua · 07-05-2021 1:27pm

RulesOfNature wrote: »

Revenue is there to take your money. To praise and cheer them on is bizarre.

They are efficient at taking your money. To fund the world’s most expensive hospital. Being built during a worldwide economic recession caused by a pandemic. Go figure.

They are there to take the money that you are holding onto that ISN'T yours. What part of that do you not comprehend or sign up to? They do that for all of us, as per the rules agreed to. Stop being a child.

WrenBoy · 07-05-2021 1:28pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd have a very different view on them but maybe I was just unlucky. Did 2 courses up to post grad level through Springboard, 2 different colleges and both times they were lectured by inexperienced people and stunk of being cobbled together for HEA money.

Thats not to say I didn't get anything out of them but the later of the courses I did was absolutely shambolic in it's delivery.

Thats disappointing to hear, like I said I only have the testimonial of 3 people who used the service they all did courses to get into the IT sector and got work/ went onto study further subsequently. I know 2 were with Dublin Business School, don't know about the third, cant remember.
Hope you got sorted eventually.

suicide_circus · 07-05-2021 1:39pm

Mav11 wrote: »

The OPW are fantastic at what they do, parks, buildings, heritage sites etc., but their sense of value for taxpayers money is non existent. Some of their overspends and inefficiencies are eye watering and it doesn't seem to bother them.

I'm not aware of any publicly funded body that gives a hoot about value for taxpayer money tbh!

mrslancaster · 07-05-2021 1:40pm

+1 for Revenue.

TBF, social protection also. They pay huge numbers of people regularly with few issues, pensioners, children's allowance, job seekers, PUP in recent times & various other payments.

They also manage the GRO & register births deaths & marriages very efficiently. They issue everyone with RSI numbers & record contributions for your entire life. I'm sure there are hiccups but overall it appears to be well run.

suicide_circus · 07-05-2021 1:42pm

silverharp wrote: »

I would say the NCT but last time when I couldnt find my driving licence I went down with my Passport and they wouldnt accept it as ID which I found peculiar, they would accept some public service card but that looked like a pain to apply for

NCT are an absolute nightmare

RulesOfNature · 07-05-2021 3:02pm

An Ri rua wrote: »

They are there to take the money that you are holding onto that ISN'T yours. What part of that do you not comprehend or sign up to? They do that for all of us, as per the rules agreed to. Stop being a child.

When did I agree for them to build the world’s most expensive hospital?

crossman47 · 07-05-2021 3:05pm

correct horse battery staple wrote: »

CSO, CRO, aqueducts…

Oh been pleasantly surprised by passport office

+ 1 for CSO. Very helpful if you have a query.

KaneToad · 07-05-2021 3:08pm

Got a replacement passport in the post recently. It took 48 hrs from application to receipt. I thought that was good.

Really Excellent Public Services in Ireland that aren't Shambolic

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