Public officials who have undertaken professional accountancy training are making a difference in implementing changed practices in public management, said the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.

He was welcoming a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) led by its new chief executive, Mr David Adams.

Increasingly "mid-career" public officials who had undertaken CIPFA training were taking up positions in local and central governments and in the health and education services, according to Mr Ahern. They were key to supporting the strategic management initiative to improve management practices in the public service.

The Institute of Public Administration is CIPFA's accredited training institution in Ireland.

"It is a welcome development . . . that our public officials are upgrading their skills in line with the needs of a modern public service," said Mr Ahern.