A position of head of the Civil Service should be created while the most senior civil servants in the State would be accountable to an independent external board, under proposals to be published today.

The recommendations for strengthening accountability and performance in the service are also expected to rule out performance-related pay for secretaries general, the most senior figures in Government departments.

Advisers to ministers will also be subject to training and development courses before taking up positions in Government departments, according to sources.

The proposals are also likely to urge the establishment of a performance management system for secretaries general.

Final decision The Cabinet discussed the proposals yesterday and agreed to publish the reform report today, but no final decisions have been taken yet.

Last January, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin established an independent panel to look at the issue.

The panel was chaired by Dublin City University lecturer Prof Kevin Rafter, non-executive chairwoman of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Dorothea Dowling and former secretary general of the Department of Defence Michael Howard.

They will host a briefing today where they will outline their proposals in detail.