Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2024
242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which the levels of savings achieved through reform across the public sector has been quantified on an annual basis in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29956/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which reform, as a component in economic strategy, has achieved savings in line with projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29958/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which efficiency and cost-effective targets continue to be met throughout the public sector; the extent to which this has benefitted the economy in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29959/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to indicate, by each Department, the extent to which costs have been reduced under the separate headings of public expenditure reduction and or public sector reform, in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29960/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if any particular Government Department and the bodies under its aegis are expected to improve their performance in respect of savings, cost-cutting or reform targets over the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29961/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which reform, as a component in economic strategy, has achieved savings in line with projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29965/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 244 to 247, inclusive, and 251 together.
My Department regularly reviews budgetary and expenditure monitoring processes to ensure the adequate tracking of Government spending and provides best practice guidance and approaches to assessing the impact of public expenditure investment. In implementing further reforms, my Department will look to build on the budgetary reforms already in place and the significant work on public service reform already achieved. These reforms include:
• The 'whole of year' budgetary framework with publications at key points in the year including the Public Service Performance Report, the Summer Economic Statement, the Mid-Year Expenditure Report, and the Spending Review papers. These publications seek to support enhanced transparency, engagement in relation to budgetary issues and value for money.
• Improving and supporting the use of evidence informed policy making through the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES).
• Enhancing the focus on performance and national well-being through the performance and well-being frameworks.
These processes complement the monitoring of drawdown of funds from the Exchequer reported each month against expenditure profiles in the Fiscal Monitor.
Together, these reforms broaden the approach to how public expenditure is appraised, implemented and reviewed. They govern not only how and where the money is spent but also the impact of public expenditure across different cohorts of society and the different categories of expenditure.
In respect of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of policy delivery, improving and supporting the evaluation capacity within Government Departments has formed an important part of the reform programme. Supported by IGEES, this has led to the development of a number of additional processes and reports to support the budgetary framework. The IGEES website contains a database of publications on reform and enhancing efficiency, across sectors of Government and society.
Better Public Services’, the public service transformation strategy which was launched in 2023, ensures reform will continue to play a central role in ensuring prudent expenditure and optimum value for money in the provision of public services throughout 2024.
The strategy comprises three central pillars aimed at delivering transformation at scale: ‘Digital and Innovation at Scale’; ‘Workforce and Organisation of the Future’; and ‘Evidence-Informed Policies and Services Designed for and with our Public’ and my Department is currently coordinating a number of cross government reform initiatives under each of these pillars.
This strategy also incorporates priorities articulated in a number of sectoral reform programmes. This will ensure that the public service will work collaboratively to deliver those reforms at a scale that will ensure value for money for the people of Ireland.
By way of ensuring the delivery of organisational reforms and service improvements, Public Service Bodies are requested to identify and prioritise relevant actions that align to the overarching themes of ‘Better Public Services’ when developing their own corporate strategies and business plans.
To ensure these reform efforts are delivered at scale across the wider Public Service, my Department coordinates the Public Service Leadership Board, which draws on senior leadership from across the Public Service to monitor and advance progress in driving reform.
