4.16 Review of work practices: A review of work practices will continue with a view to eliminating inappropriate practices and arrangements, which may have become outdated. 2011-2014 The Department identified three areas for internal review: A review of travel and subsistence within the Department has been completed. A number of recommendations, including the introduction of some new procedures and controls, are being implemented. A working group was established to review the current debt management procedures. It reported considerable progress made by the relevant Divisions in dealing with debts, e.g. a Debt Recovery Unit is in place that deals with the State’s six Fishery Harbour Centres. The Unit works not only to recover monies outstanding, but also to encourage the timely payment of invoices issued. A review of two internal claim processing systems has been completed and the rationalisation of these processes will lead to administrative efficiencies. The Department is seeking to identify further opportunities in this regard and has introduced a new staff suggestion scheme, which will seek the views of staff regarding efficiencies in their own work areas. 1.8 Cross-streaming and restructuring of grades: The Department currently has a number of distinct staffing streams each with their own grading systems and partly separate management structures. Substantial progress has been made in recent years in a drive towards cross-stream reporting, and integration of streams. Building on these developments, the Department will continue the drive towards integration of streams and towards achieving the maximum scope for mobility within and between grades. 2011-2014 The Department has made good progress in recent years in a drive towards cross-stream reporting, team-working and the integration of streams. In the past 12 months further progress has been made; reporting arrangements have been implemented in Divisions dealing with environmental work. A multi-disciplinary, ‘Trade Team’ has also been established; it brings together all the trade interests in this Department and the relevant agencies to take a pro-active, strategic and coordinated approach to international trade matters, focusing in particular on developing market access. A proposal document to examine options for restructuring the grading streams is being drafted. Division
3. Delivering for the Citizen Terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 14 Action Target Date as per Current Action Plan Current Position 4.13 Online Services: Business processes and service delivery will be improved by the further development of service provision online as the norm. 2010-2014 The target is to increase SPS uptake among applicants by 25% and double AIM uptake among herd-owners from 12,500 to 25,000. Single Payment Scheme The number of Single Payment Scheme applications online has increased from 43,465 in 2010 to 54,372 in 2011, an increase of 25%. The SPS on-line application facility, iNet, was launched in 2007. The number of applications lodged on-line has grown from 7,500 in 2007 to over 54,000 in 2011, a seven-fold increase. iNet guarantees farmers and their approved agents immediate, verifiable receipt by the Department of their applications and, through the system of validations, significantly reduces the numbers of errors that can be made, thereby ultimately leading to quicker payment. The Department has introduced an on-line mapping element into the 2012 release, allowing farmers, or their agents, to submit maps online through iNet, thereby dispensing with the need to submit paper maps. Online mapping gives immediate effect to the