Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej MW Pivot Skin

PUBLIC SERVICES – services provided by the state to its citizens (recipients of services may also be legal entities established in a given country and foreigners residing legally in its territory), whose purpose is the public interest and/or providing users with access to goods important from the point of view of their key needs. P.s. have a very diverse character and can be divided into three areas: administrative, social and technical. The social area includes: health care, education, social assistance, culture (including access to national heritage), sport, housing, labour market and public safety (including: army, police, fire brigade). The technical area includes: public transport, telecommunications, energy management, water management, waste management and environmental protection. Tasks in the area of administration include, among others: data registration and issuing documents, as well as granting licenses and permits. A new category that has appeared in recent years is the so-called e-services that allow recipients to contact institutions online, e.g. → Electronic Platform of Public Administration Services (ePUAP) or Platform for Electronic Services of the Social Insurance Institution (PUE ZUS). P.s. can be implemented directly by public sector entities (e.g. offices), but it is also possible to outsource them, which entails public administration entrusting the implementation of selected tasks to another entity, non-governmental organisations or private entities. (→ marketisation of public services) [E. Jaroszewska]