Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
189. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27967/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staff in my department have worked collaboratively on a wide range of policies and initiatives since June 2020, delivering on the strategic goals set out in the department’s previous Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023 and the current Statement of Strategy 2023 – 2025. This includes the strategic management of well-targeted and sustainable public spending and the negotiation and allocation of €91.2 billion of funding for 2024.
The department has also drafted policy to address the challenges and contexts facing Ireland today. Policies have been developed to support an equitable, digital and green recovery, establish blended working arrangements, open our country to those fleeing war and address the cost of living crisis in an appropriate, considered and timely manner to continue to safeguard the sustainability of public expenditure.
Some of the main policy achievements over this period include:
• the publication of the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – the largest and greenest NDP in the history of the State with a particular focus on responding to the key issues of public housing provision and climate. Updates are regularly given on NDP progress through quarterly Memoranda for Government and the Project Ireland 2024 Progress Tracker outlines progress on different NDP projects across the country
• the update of the Public Spending Code to strengthen our approach to capital expenditure management. This included the introduction of the External Assurance Process (EAP) and Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG). The Public Spending Code has been replaced with a set of Infrastructure Guidelines as of March 2023
• the commencement of the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019
• leading on digital transformation, including the publication of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT strategy for Ireland’s Public Service and Digital for Good: Ireland’s Digital Inclusion Roadmap
• leading on the Life Events programme, an initiative aimed at transforming public services to be more accessible, proactive, convenient and seamless both online and in person
• working collaboratively with other departments in designing the first Civil Service Blended Working Framework which was launched to support Civil Service organisations to develop their own blended working policies
• agreement of the new Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 in response to inflation and the rising cost of living
• development of the Partnership Agreement , the overarching strategic document that lays out Ireland’s investment strategy and priorities to be addressed via the Cohesion Policy programmes
• providing appropriate funding for a whole of Government response to meeting our climate ambitions and Housing for All targets
• publication of Better Public Services , a new transformation strategy to 2030 for the Public Service aimed at delivering for the public and building trust
• launch of the Domestic Violence and Abuse Policy for the Civil Service , which sets out statutory entitlements to domestic violence leave and other employment supports for civil servants
• publication of the Civil Service Menopause in the Workplace Policy Framework , which provides an overarching framework to support Civil Service organisations to develop menopause policies to support their employees
• launch of the Open Data Strategy 2023 – 2027 , which provides the framework for the actions that the Public Service will take on Open Data over the next five years to ensure best use of data across all public sectors
• launch of the Civil Service Assisted Return to Career programme, which promotes a more inclusive labour market for skilled workers seeking to return to work after a career break
Additionally, through a continuum of measures, this department proactively continues to respond with targeted measures to alleviate pressure on households and exposed sectors of the economy. The management of a responsive fiscal policy, which invests in better public services and infrastructure for our growing and changing population, allows us - especially through the Budgetary process - to respond to external challenges faced by households, businesses and individuals across the country. This planned and careful management of our public expenditure has helped us to return Government finances to a surplus.
The Deputy may also wish to note that full details in relation to the achievements of the department are set out in the department’s Annual Reports published each year on Gov.ie. The 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports can be found at the following links:
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/228322/cf7a63a8-6bda-43d2-9020-19ac6db63a37.pdf#page=null
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/134835/161df9dc-c422-47c4-8f65-b0b9fffe2f33.pdf#page=null
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/263645/be5988c2-b456-4ef4-b5c6-477b8b10adf8.pdf#page=null
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/295832/414461c1-f7dc-4a1c-8bff-b84dbdbe053b.pdf#page=null
A broad range of information and updates about the department's key policy areas are published on its section of the gov.ie website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-public-expenditure-and-reform/
