Written Answers Nos. 455-474
456. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide details on all open EU infringement proceedings where the subject of the infringement relates to the functions of his Department; the reason the infringement proceedings were initiated; the procedural stage of the infringement proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30273/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that there are no open EU infringement proceedings relating to the functions of my Department at this time.
457. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether, in light of the United States Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act, which may allow US law enforcement authorities to seek access to data held by US-headquartered technology companies regardless of where that data is stored, his Department has assessed the potential jurisdictional implications of engaging non-EU headquartered suppliers for critical national digital infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30327/26]
View answerMy Dept published two guidance notes in 2025 which all public service bodies should use to help guide their decision making around the use of cloud-based services – the Cloud Computing Advice Note 2025 Update, from the Office of the Government CIO, and the Cloud Services Procurement Guidance Note 2025 Update, from the Office of Government Procurement. This advice remains relevant and continues to apply.
I can confirm that my own department follows this guidance when making such assessments.
458. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to his announcement on 5 February 2026, of the Government approval of a national electronic health record (EHR) system, whether his Department has undertaken a formal review of comparable large-scale programmes in other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland and Norway where significant cost increases and timeline extensions have been reported; the specific value for money, governance, and other measures that are being incorporated into Ireland's planned EHR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30329/26]
View answer459. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to his announcement on 5 February 2026 of Government approval of a national electronic health record (EHR) system, the safeguards being built into procurement contracts to protect the Exchequer from unforeseen implementation costs, change-control inflation, vendor dependency, or prolonged transition periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30337/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.
The National Electronic Health Record programme is a matter for the Minister for Health supported by her Department in the first instance. Accordingly, the procurement strategy, delivery of value for money, governance, and lessons learned from international practice are also matters for the Minister for Health and her officials in the Department of Health and the HSE.
In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, my officials and I support all Departments and their agencies in the delivery of their mandates through the functions of my Department including:
• expenditure oversight,
• ongoing enhancement of the central accountability, governance, value for money frameworks,
• expenditure policy,
• procurement policy,
• pay and pension policy,
• oversight of digital and ICT initiatives, and
• setting and facilitating the overall public service reform agenda.
It is the responsibility of each Accounting Officer to manage expenditure in line with their budgetary allocation and the central expenditure, accountability and value for money frameworks.
In relation to the National Electronic Health Record programme, my Department fulfils a role according to its statutory and administrative functions as detailed above.
Specifically, as this is a large-scale transformational project, with a signification ICT/digital dimension, my officials engaged with officials in the Department of Health to agree a specific process for the project which combines the Infrastructure Guidelines and Digital Governance Oversight Unit (DGOU) Circular 14/2021 on the arrangements for oversight of digital and ICT related initiatives in the civil and public service. This was to ensure the appropriate balance of assurance and efficiency of approach.
The National Electronic Health Record programme was considered by the Major Projects Advisory Group in September 2025 and this consideration informed Government’s decision in February 2026 to proceed with the National Electronic Health Record Programme Preliminary Business Case through Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. This decision allows the HSE to prepare for procurement.
In the context of Circular 14/2021, and given the scale of the programme, my Department has established a Digital Governance Oversight Peer Review Group for the procurement and investment phase. The purpose of this group is to provide an independent, structured review of the programme at key decision points throughout its lifecycle. The group will provide advice and support to both the Digital Governance Oversight Unit (and ultimately myself) and to the Minister for Health and the HSE Project Team, acting as a critical friend to the project.
Individual Accounting Officers in public sector bodies hold responsibility for ensuring that their organisation’s procurement activities are carried out efficiently and effectively and in full compliance with procurement rules and procedures. While the procurement strategy for the National Electronic Health Record Programme is a matter for the Minister for Health, the Office of Government Procurement, which operates within my Department, supports public sector bodies in meeting their procurement obligations. This support includes the provision of resources such as the eTenders platform, comprehensive guidelines, and standard template documentation. These template documents, developed in collaboration with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, are designed to promote consistency and legal compliance, while affording individual contracting authorities the flexibility to incorporate additional contract-specific terms and conditions or, where necessary, to amend standard contract clauses. This includes, for example, a provision providing for changes to the prices tendered only on specific dates and only by the percentage by which a relevant price index has increased or decreased.
My officials and I will continue to support the Minister for Health and her Department through the functions of my Department as this key programme is developed as part of the wider health digitalisation strategy.
460. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department or the Public Appointments Service, has considered removing the psychometric testing stage from civil service recruitment processes; and if alternative or more robust assessment methods are being examined to ensure that all applicants have a fair and equitable opportunity to progress to the interview stage, where candidates can more effectively demonstrate their skills and suitability for the position. [30403/26]
View answerI have been advised by the Public Appointments Service (publicjobs) that the selection processes for general service roles in the Civil Service are based on a very thorough job analysis which identifies the key capabilities for effective performance. Once these capabilities have been identified, the most appropriate tests and exercises are chosen that best measure what is required in the role. In publicjobs, similar to many other recruiters, psychometric tests are sometimes used. Some of the skills that are required for these roles, e.g. the ability to understand numerical data or the ability to critically analyse written information are very difficult to assess through an interview, and where these skills are required, publicjobs use verbal and numerical tests.
For many of these roles, publicjobs use Job Simulation/Situational Judgement tests, where candidates are given scenarios typical of what may occur in the role and they are asked to use their experience and judgement to rate a series of possible actions to address these scenarios in terms of their appropriateness.
The use of these psychometric tests allow publicjobs to efficiently assess large numbers of candidates for a role against a number of critical skill areas. Once ability in these areas has been determined, candidates can then proceed to the next stage of the selection process. This approach is an evidence-based one, as research shows that psychometric tests are a robust, fair and equitable method of assessment with good levels of predictive ability, i.e. they accurately predict performance in roles.
I have been assured that publicjobs constantly monitor the performance of candidates throughout the selection processes across the various grounds, specifically age, gender, ethnicity and disability. For candidates with disabilities, the Reasonable Accommodations publicjobs provide ensures that these candidates perform at a similar level to candidates without disabilities.
Recruitment is a constantly evolving field. The team of Work and Organisational Psychologists in publicjobs engage in extensive benchmarking and research into different ways of assessing candidates. publicjobs can therefore use a variety of approaches, including presentation exercises and written exercises to assess specific skills required for different roles.
For the last number of years, many entry level roles do not use psychometric tests as part of the assessment process. publicjobs has assessed many thousands of candidates for Temporary Clerical Officer (TCO) and Clerical Officer (CO) roles using an Assessment Questionnaire which captures candidate experience, work preferences, skills assessments and their situational judgement.
461. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reason AI platforms are blocked on Government systems; and if he has examined designing a specific AI platform specific for the Civil Service to use. [30407/26]
View answerMy Department promotes the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) I in line with the EU AI act, my Department’s Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service and the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies. My Department also promotes a risk based assessment with a decision making framework should be used to evaluate if AI is the most appropriate solution to meet the use case needs. In addition, where it is considered appropriate to use AI, my Department recommends that a responsible approach to implementation of AI is taken in line with the seven principles set out in my Department’s guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence.
Chapter 8 of these Guidelines provides detailed guidance for End-Users of GenAI, in line with the guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre’s Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies.
The Guidelines recommend that more general access to such tools by staff should not be permitted until Departments have conducted the relevant business assessments, have appropriate usage policies in place and have implemented staff awareness programmes on safe and appropriate usage of these tools.
Free GenAI tools are very accessible but because they lack suitable management and oversight pose significant risks for use in the Irish Public Sector. Any information given to a public GenAI tool could be used in training the model. Thus, we advise against their use in the public service.
This is recommended as while AI has the capacity to transform public services, it is essential that the data underpinning AI is of high quality, as low-quality data cannot be relied upon for its veracity. In effect, to get accurate results from data, high-quality data is required.
Whilst designing an AI platform specific for the Civil Service to use is not currently being examined for a number of reasons, including current rapid technology evolution and change, the recently published National Digital and AI Strategy ‘Digital Ireland’ sets out our ambitious programme in the Artificial Intelligence space.
462. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30483/26]
View answerI am pleased to provide the Deputy with an overview of my Department’s main policy achievements since 22 January, 2025. My Department's priorities are set out in its Statement of Strategy 2025-2028, guided by a mission to drive the delivery of better public services, living standards and infrastructure for the people of Ireland. The strategy outlines how my Department will achieve its goals in the context of the Programme for Government and overall Government priorities and overarching policy frameworks. In this context and in addition to the overview below, the Deputy may wish to note the attached table which sets out a progress update in respect of the Programme for Government actions assigned to my Department.
Overall, delivering reform is central to the Programme for Government and to everything we do in my Department and I believe that implementation of the actions under each of the three strategic goals in the Statement of Strategy – Enhancing Governance; Building Capacity; and Delivering Effectively – will ensure that my Department continues to make a major contribution at the centre of government and to the lives of the people of Ireland.
From an expenditure policy perspective, my Department is playing a central role in shaping Ireland’s fiscal and budgetary landscape through the publication of the Summer Economic Statement, the launch of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the successful delivery of Budget 2026. I have also instituted a review of Public Financial Procedures to enhance accountability and value for money.
My Department has strengthened its infrastructure mandate by establishing a dedicated Infrastructure Division led by a Deputy Secretary General. The Department published a revised National Development Plan in July 2025, allocating €275.4 billion in capital investment to 2035. This is the largest investment programme in the history of the State. To accelerate the delivery of infrastructure, the Department published an Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan in December 2025, following a public consultation on barriers to infrastructure delivery. The Plan is designed to address the key barriers to infrastructure development and drive the efficient delivery of infrastructure across Ireland by progressing reforms across four key pillars: Legal Reform; Regulatory Reform and Simplification; Delivery and Coordination Reform; and Public Acceptance. The Division is prioritising the implementation of the Plan within the Department and across Government in line with agreed actions and timelines.
My Department is also working with a broad range of public bodies on the implementation of the Better Public Services Strategy to deliver agreed flagship programmes under the three pillars of Digital and Innovation at Scale, Workforce and Organisation of the Future and Evidence informed policy and services designed for and with our public. This programme is focused on providing inclusive, high quality and integrated service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland. I would highlight, in particular, the publication of a new Digital Public Services Plan (2030). This plan commits to the digitalisation of 189 applicable key public services across 17 Life Events (e.g. Birth of a Child, Becoming Employed/Unemployed). The plan also commits to a service design methodology whereby services will be redesigned after extensive user research. The plan sets a pathway to delivering on two key targets for 2030: (i) 100% of key public services available online; and (ii) 90% of key public services consumed online.
My Department launched the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service in May 2025. These guidelines form a practical framework aligned with the EU AI Act to support responsible AI adoption in the public service. My Department is also advancing digital transformation through the completion of the State Data Centre and updates to the Digital Inclusion Roadmap.
Aligned to the delivery of Better Public Services, my Department is well advanced in the process of developing a first ever National Public Procurement Strategy. As part of the work to prepare for the Strategy, Ireland’s Strategic Procurement Roadmap (2025), a joint project with the European Commission, reported on the barriers and challenges that public buyers and suppliers face and was the initial pre-consultation scoping exercise for the strategy. The Roadmap provided the initial evidence base and insight for the public consultation which has resulted in the solutions and actions that will be addressed in the Strategy once finalised. My Department also led on Ireland's first cross-government all-island supplier expo, supporting SME access to public procurement opportunities.
Before concluding, I would like to point to a number of other areas advanced during 2025. For example, Ireland’s position on EU Cohesion Policy post 2027 was articulated through a public consultation, Stakeholder Forum and the finalisation of position paper. Civil service reform continues with new workplace policies and updated guidance on CEO remuneration. The Department supports innovation in public service delivery and is advancing a new digital wallet. Ireland also strengthened its leadership in digital government and open data, placing among the top countries globally in both EU and OECD assessments for 2025. In addition to AI usage guidelines referenced above, my Department introduced new skills development initiatives including the ICT Apprenticeship Scheme and the Commercial Skills Academy Strategic Action Plan. Sustainability and legislative reform were prioritised through the approval of a Green Public Procurement Circular and the enactment of the Statute Law Revision Act 2024. Recognition of excellence was achieved with awards and certifications for ethical procurement and data governance, and public engagement was enhanced through initiatives such as the WhereYourMoneyGoes.gov.ie survey.
Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department’s Annual Report for 2025 will be published in the coming weeks and will outline the Department's achievements throughout 2025 in more detail.
463. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if it is the current policy of his private office/Department to formally invite or notify all local Oireachtas members of constituency events at which Ministers are in attendance in the course of performing their ministerial duties and functions; if he will provide the Department's current policy or protocol on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30603/26]
View answerThere is currently no formal policy or protocol in my Department to notify Oireachtas member of events I attend in constituencies. In many instances, local event organisers would manage invitations for constituency events which I attend in the course of my ministerial duties.
464. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a list of all events across every constituency attended by the Minister in the course of his ministerial duties since 1 January 2026, where formal invitations/notifications to attend were not issued by his office to all local Oireachtas members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30621/26]
View answerMy diary is published routinely on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This is available to view here www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/organisation-information/ministerial-diaries.
466. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of his Department building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30702/26]
View answer475. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by his Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30848/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 475 together.
In relation to OPW occupied buildings, there are Solar PV Systems installed in OPW HQ (Trim), 1 Georges Quay, OPW Headford Drainage Headquarters (Galway), Sluice House (Galway), Stamping Building (Dublin Castle, new system currently being installed) and Kilkenny Government Offices.
467. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30720/26]
View answer468. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30740/26]
View answer469. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30757/26]
View answer470. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30778/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 to 470, inclusive, together.
The Government’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021, the annual Climate Action Plan (CAP), and the annually updated Public Sector Climate Action Mandate commit Ireland to a strategic direction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Sustainability and climate action are at the core of the Office of Public Works’ Statement of Strategy and the Office is committed to a vision that strives for harmony between our built and natural environments. One key objective from the Office of Public Works’ Statement of Strategy is advancing climate action obligations and promoting the transition to a low carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy and the installation of solar panels on buildings will help to achieve this objective.
I am deeply committed to helping advance sustainable solutions and renewable energy sources that mitigate against the effects of climate change which includes the continued installation of Solar PV panels. The energy retrofitting of Ireland’s State-owned office accommodation throughout the country, which includes solar PV, to at least medium-depth level renovations in order to achieve a minimum increase of 50% in individual building energy efficiency. Investment will focus on a range of measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the portfolio: from improved fabric insulation, window replacement and air tightness upgrades to the installation of renewable heating technologies (e.g. heat pumps), upgraded Building Management Systems, upgraded lighting systems and the installation of Solar PV panels.
Solar PV panels offer significant benefits by reducing carbon footprints and lowering the cost of electricity in buildings. Roof-mounted Solar PV Panels provide a renewable, free energy source with low maintenance requirements.
Generally all new buildings built by the OPW in recent years have solar PV panels installed to provide renewable energy, e.g. new FSI Laboratory, new Government Data Centre and T7 Rosslare Europort. Also, where a major renovation is taking place in a building, solar PV is retrofitted where technically feasible. Recent examples include: Tom Johnson House, DSP Ennis Government Offices and Navan Government Offices. It is also OPW Policy to consider installing solar PV in any large building where the roof is being replaced or upgraded.
471. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total allocation of funding to each State agency under his Department’s remit, broken down by the allocation to each agency, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30800/26]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table. Please note that the figures provides are the gross voted allocation in a given year.
The National Shared Services Office became a statutory Civil Service Office on 1 January 2018, and figures are therefore provided from 2018 onwards.
The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery is not allocated funding by the Exchequer and therefore is not part of the estimates process. It is funded by a 20-year multi-annual levy on the National Lottery.
472. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total spend on consultancy firms by each State agency under his Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each named consultancy firm, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30818/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).
473. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the refurbishment and upgrading works carried out by the OPW to a location (details supplied), including a detailed timeline of the refurbishment and upgrading works; if any consideration has been given to restoring the sculptures over the front door and allowing visitor access to the rooftop level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30833/26]
View answer474. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he can confirm that a facility (details supplied) will be open to the public this year; the reason the facility has not yet opened, despite previously opening for the 2025 season in March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30834/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together.
The Casino at Marino is a designated National Monument in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
As the Deputy will likely be aware, the OPW completed a major programme of electrical remediation and conservation works to the fabric of the building in 2017-2019 and the monument re-opened to the public in September 2019.
As part of ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the condition of the building, some issues with the stonework at parapet level have been identified with potential safety implications for visitors and the public. As a result, it has been necessary to delay the opening of the Casino to visitors this season while further investigations are carried out by specialist OPW staff. The results of these investigations will inform the reopening date. The OPW intends to reopen the Casino as soon as it is safe to do so.
Finally, the OPW, together with Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is developing a project to significantly enhance visitor facilities at Casino Marino through provision of a new visitor centre including café and exhibition space, and sensitive restoration and improvements to the landscape at the site. The OPW has been engaged with DCC in relation to property matters and a planning application for this new visitor centre is due to be submitted imminently.
