Government Administration Department started on 1 March

The Government Administration Department started on 1 March as a provider of administration and specialist services to ministries. The pooling of the administration and specialist services functions under the Prime Minister's Office is because of its proportion a historic reform in the Finnish government. The reform aims at improving efficiency and productivity, enhancing the use of the personnel's broad-based expertise and increasing the use of consistent practices, processes and tools.

The joint administration and specialist services are now handled by approximately 500 officials of the Government Administration Department. Most of them continue their work at their old ministries taking care of document management or in-house services, for example. Approximately 150 officials work in the Government Palace or offices on Mariankatu or Unioninkatu.

Certain functions are fully carried out by the Government Administration Department while others may be divided between ministries and the new Department. The Department also directs and coordinates some other functions relating to government administration and specialist services.

The functions handled by the Government Administration Department include in-house services, premises, transportation, library services, information support, translation and language services, security, ICT, information systems, information management and publications.

"The establishment of the Government Administration Department was prepared by a several working groups consisting of representatives from ministries. They comprised over a hundred officials. The process was very inclusive and transparent. This is the way we want to continue in the future too. All functions are developed in cooperation with the ministries", says Janne Kerkelä who is Director General in lead of the new Department.

The preparatory work on the establishment of the Government Administration Department was carried out under a project launched by the Prime Minister's Office in December 2013.  It made part of the central government reorganisation project.

Inquiries: Janne Kerkelä, Director General, tel. +358 295 160 381, Prime Minister’s Office