Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
19. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he or his Department are providing guidance to any additional State agencies for projects that are potentially being written down, given the recent reporting of the €50 million write off of the IT system at Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40671/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, there is a strict control and accountability framework in place for the use of public monies. The objective of the framework is to ensure that all public monies are expended for the purpose of and in accordance with the laws under which they are approved. The fundamental principle is that there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public money, in line with economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
It is of course a matter for each Department and Office of Government concerned to ensure that there are appropriate oversight arrangements and structures in place to ensure that public money is spent in line with the strict control and accountability framework.
While my Department does have an initial approval role in relation to ICT and digital initiatives across the Public Service, the relevant Accounting Officer remains responsible for projects undertaken by their organisation, in consultation with their parent Department, where relevant.
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 central accountability, governance and 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.
While the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in my Department is available to public service bodies to provide guidance and advice, responsibility for delivery of any initiative, and the associated financial outcomes remains with the sponsoring organisation.
Under the framework set out in Circular 14/21 from my Department, for digital and ICT initiatives of scale a peer review process will be initiated. The purpose of the Peer Review process is to assess if the governance arrangements of initiatives of scale, risk and/or strategic importance, are appropriately established and operated to provide maximum assurance of successful delivery. The Peer Review Group provides an independent, structured review of the programme at key decision points throughout its lifecycle. The group will act as a critical friend to the project, providing advice and support to both the OGCIO and to the relevant project lead in the sponsoring organisation.
