Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council’s Competitiveness Bulletin on public-sector performance will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65728/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide Ireland’s scores and rankings under the Blavatnik Index of Public Administration for each year since the index was first produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65729/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together.
An effective public administration system is crucial for both economic management and broader societal wellbeing. It provides the institutional foundations that underpin our national competitiveness and productivity, and creates the conditions needed to attract investment, foster innovation, and support sustainable growth.
The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) is currently developing a research bulletin examining the performance of Ireland’s public sector. This work is informed by the new Blavatnik Index of Public Administration, which applies a newly developed analytical framework that draws on 82 metrics across 17 data sources.
As this is a new measure, data is only available for 2024. Ireland ranks 24th out of 120 countries. The results highlight strong performance in HR Management, Diversity and Inclusion, and Tax Administration, alongside weaker outcomes in Digital Services, Procurement, and Technology and Workplaces. The timing of the publication of the NCPC bulletin is a matter for the Council, however, it is in the final stages of drafting and is expected to be available by the end of November.
The NCPC uses a wide variety of international benchmarks to contextualise Ireland’s performance and support evidence-based policymaking. As the Council notes, such indices can be valuable tools for identifying comparative strengths and vulnerabilities. However, given the developmental nature of the Blavatnik Index, it should be interpreted as a diagnostic tool rather than a definitive scorecard.
I look forward to the forthcoming publication of the NCPC bulletin and to continued engagement with the Council on this critically important issue.
