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AboutUs - Who's Who - Permanent Secretary

Permanent Secretary - Department for Regional Development

Paul Priestly - DRD Permanent Secretary

Paul Priestly was appointed Permanent Secretary for the Department for Regional Development (DRD) on 3 December 2007.

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Role

Paul is the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Regional Development.  As such, he is the Minister's principal adviser across the full range of his Ministerial responsibilities.

In terms of the Department's corporate governance arrangements the Permanent Secretary acts as Head of Department and chair of the Departmental Board, as well as being the Accounting Officer.

Departmental Board

The Departmental Board exists to lead the Department's strategic planning and assist the Permanent Secretary in meeting corporate governance responsibilities for the Department.  

The Board provides corporate leadership to the organisation as a whole, takes ownership of the Department's performance, provides support for the Head of  Department and provides advice to the Minister.

The key aspects of the Board's role include:

  • taking forward the department's agreed strategic aims;
  • advising on the allocation of its financial and human resources to achieve those aims;
  • managing departmental resources and monitoring the achievement of performance objectives;
  • setting the Department's standards and values;
  • maintaining a transparent system of prudent and effective controls;
  • assessing and managing risk; and
  • leading and overseeing the process of change and encouraging innovation, to enhance the Department's capability to deliver.

Accounting Officer

In his role as Accounting Officer, the Permanent Secretary is responsible for ensuring that:

  • the Departmental accounts are properly presented;
  • correct financial procedures are followed and accounting records maintained;
  • public funds are managed with propriety and duly safeguarded;
  • departmental assets are controlled and safeguarded;
  • all relevant financial considerations are taken into account, and brought to the Minister's attention, when considering policy proposals;
  • a sound system of internal control is maintained in the Department to support the achievement of its policies and objectives;
  • the impact of the Department's activities on others is properly identified and, where appropriate, taken into account; and
  • the Statement of Internal Control is accurate and appropriate.

Education

Paul was educated at Grosvenor Grammar School, the Belfast College of Business Studies and The Queen's University of Belfast.

Career History

Paul joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service as a graduate entrant in 1985 and has spent most of his career in the Northern Ireland Office.  He was appointed as Director of Strategy and head of the Economic Policy and Regeneration Directorate of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in early 2007, where he was responsible for supporting the Northern Ireland Executive in preparing and delivering the Programme for Government 2008-11 and the Investment Strategy 2008-18.  He was appointed as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Regional Development on 3 December 2007.

Additional Information

Paul is married to Pamela and has three children.  His outside interests include:  sailing, hill-walking, reading history and natural history, and playing the guitar (badly).