The Role of the Centre in Promoting Civil Service Modernisation provides an overview of some of the main issues concerning the role of the centre in promoting the modernisation agenda in the civil service. For the purpose of the study, the centre is defined primarily as the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance, as well as the Implementation Group and associated sub-groups engaged in promoting the modernisation programme centrally. The study is now an evaluation of the role of the centre. Rather, the study draws upon organisational theory literature as to how the centre can promote and control change in complex organisational settings. The study also draws on lessons from practice in other administrations and a series of interviews with key informants from the Irish Civil Service.