Ireland’s public sector put innovation, collaboration and practical problem-solving in the spotlight this week as gov.ie published the winners of the Better Public Service Awards 2026. The annual event, announced by Minister Jack Chambers, highlighted how public bodies are using digital tools, data and citizen-focused design to improve services people rely on every day.
The awards mark an important shift this year because they now extend beyond the civil service to the wider public service. That broader scope reflects how major reforms increasingly depend on joint delivery between departments, agencies and frontline organisations, from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to local authorities and policing bodies such as An Garda Síochána.
How gov.ie showcased the 2026 winners
According to gov.ie, 36 teams were shortlisted across 12 categories, with projects judged on innovation, collaboration and real-world impact. The ceremony in Dublin underscored a wider government message: better public services are built when departments and agencies share expertise rather than work in isolation.
The winning entries reveal several themes shaping the Irish public sector:
- Digital transformation that simplifies access to services
- Data-led policy and operational decision-making
- Cross-agency cooperation on complex social issues
- Long-term planning in areas such as Health, Transport and Social Protection
- Sustainability and climate-focused public administration
That matters not only for major departments but also for institutions such as the Revenue Commissioners, Citizens Information Board, HIQA, the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), and the Data Protection Commission (DPC), all of which play a role in modern public service delivery.
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Standout projects across health, transport and rural development
Among the most notable winners on gov.ie was the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) for the national scaling of Acute Virtual Wards. The project reflects a growing move toward digitally enabled care, helping patients access treatment pathways without always needing a hospital bed.
Other major winners included:
- Cross-government child protection: The Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Tusla were recognised for implementing Barnahus in Ireland.
- Language and community innovation: Gaeilge365, led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Dublin City Council, won for innovation at scale.
- Workforce planning: The Department of Social Protection was honoured for strategic workforce planning and later again for MyFutureFund.
- Health service design: The Department of Health, HSE and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland were recognised for the Common Conditions Service.
- Data-driven farming sustainability: The Department of Agriculture, Teagasc and Bord Bia were rewarded for AgNav.
- Road safety and data integration: The Department of Transport and An Garda Síochána won for the Irish Motor Insurance Database.
These projects show how departments linked to Finance, Housing, Justice, Education, Climate Action and Agriculture are increasingly expected to deliver measurable outcomes, not just policy statements.
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Why these gov.ie awards matter beyond the ceremony
The value of the awards is not merely symbolic. The projects celebrated on gov.ie point to practical models that may influence future work across the Office of Public Works (OPW), Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Central Bank, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the National Transport Authority (NTA).
For example, Rosslare Europort Terminal 7, delivered by the OPW and Revenue Commissioners, demonstrated how infrastructure, border processes and trade facilitation can be advanced together. Meanwhile, Ireland’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap showed how Transport and Climate Action priorities can be aligned.
In a period when the Department of the Taoiseach and departments spanning Public Expenditure, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Local Government are under pressure to do more with public resources, these examples offer a roadmap for scalable reform.
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What the winners say about the future of public services
The clearest takeaway from gov.ie is that Ireland’s strongest public service projects are increasingly built around user needs, joined-up delivery and evidence-based decision-making. Whether the work involves the Health Service Executive (HSE), Tusla, An Garda Síochána or departments overseeing Social Protection and Rural and Community Development, success now depends on collaboration at scale.
As gov.ie continues to spotlight reform, the 2026 winners provide a useful benchmark for other agencies aiming to modernise services. The message is simple: better outcomes for the public come from innovation that is practical, measurable and shared across the system.
