Senior civil servants who participated in a new survey believe the Civil Service will soon play a lesser role in the delivery and administration of key Government services. They and several politicians predict private sector companies, engaging in partnerships with the public sector, will manage these functions by 2010.

A global report, Vision 2010, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit in association with Andersen Consulting, found the Republic was well equipped to adapt to the style of government made possible by new technologies. The Department of Finance has set up a central unit to assess partnership possibilities with private business. The model is based on private finance initiatives pioneered in Britain. Preliminary examples of public-private partnership government include the Government's recent announcement of a joint initiative with telecoms firm Global Crossing to develop telecoms' infrastructure.

Dublin Corporation recently outsourced the management of its parking fines and clamping services to Cap Gemini. The Government also recently signed a deal with a consortium to design, build and operate a sewage treatment plant in Dublin.

The report suggests Irish civil servants will be better prepared than employees of most governments to work in the emerging electronic government. Nearly half of those surveyed were confident their organisation was prepared or well prepared for coming changes in the public sector. This ranked among the more positive responses in Europe.