Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 July 2025
787. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the specific metrics being used to evaluate the success of public service reform initiatives; to provide data available on the performance indicators; their targets; and the current status against these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40942/25]
View answerMy Department published the Public Service Performance Report 2024 (available on gov.ie) last month. This is the 9th annual Public Service Performance Report (PSPR). The PSPR is a key policy document in the Budgetary Cycle. It is an annual review and comprehensive account of the delivery of public services against commitments set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for the preceding year. The Report provides a clear and accessible picture of how public funds have been allocated, how these funds have been used and the impact of this public spending. In recent years a series of budgetary reforms have been introduced that contributed to the development of Ireland’s performance budgeting work and performance framework. Performance Budgeting is the systematic use of delivery or ‘performance’ information to strengthen the link between budget allocations and the delivery of results. More recently, the development of the performance framework has placed an increasing focus on policy goals and the impact of public policy on people’s lives through Equality Budgeting, Green Budgeting and Well-being Budgeting.
Regarding capital expenditure, the National Development Plan and National Planning Framework combine to form Project Ireland 2040 – the government’s long-term overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all and to build a more resilient and sustainable future. The strategy ensures the alignment of investment plans with the stated National Strategic Objectives for 2040 in a considered, cohesive and defined manner. Progress is monitored through regular updates of the Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and the MyProjectIreland interactive map viewer, as well as through the publication of annual reports and regional reports highlighting Project Ireland 2040 achievements and giving a detailed overview of the public investments that have been made throughout the country.
Better Public Services provides the overarching strategy for transformation of public services bodies out to 2030 towards the shared vision of inclusive, high quality and integrated service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland. The three pillars of the strategy are; Digital and Innovation at Scale; Workforce and Organisation of the Future; and Evidence Informed Policy and Services designed for and with our public. Public Service Bodies are asked to identify and prioritise transformation actions in line with the framework, to align relevant policy and strategy with the framework and to report on progress in their annual reports. The Public Service Transformation Framework outlines six overarching outcomes as follows; Increased customer satisfaction; Increased public trust; Greater use of digital to do business with the Public Service; Greater employee engagement; Improved quality of public services; Better government effectiveness.
