Update: Government Department Savings – Public Expenditure 9th October, 2014

QUESTION NOS:   59,60,63,64,64,65
DÁIL QUESTIONS addressed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin)
by Deputy Bernard J. Durkan,Bernard J. Durkan,Bernard J. Durkan,Bernard J. Durkan,Bernard J. Durkan,Bernard J. Durkan
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 09/10/2014  

 
* To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which targets set by his Department across all Government Departments have been met and continue to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9 October, 2014.

* To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he continues to be satisfied regarding the progress made over the past three and a half in the areas of reform resulting in the elimination of waste or duplicative spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9 October, 2014.

* To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Government Departments and bodies under their aegis that are likely to have to make greater efforts to achieve targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9 October, 2014.

* To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that all Government Departments and public bodies under their aegis continue to make equal efforts to remain within budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9 October, 2014.

* To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full extent of savings made by each Government Department and their subservient bodies over the past three and a half years under the separate headings of reform and reduced expenditure or elimination of waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9 October, 2014.

* To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the scope for minor relaxation of efforts to curtail expenditure in areas that have already preformed well in the past three and a half years but where the needs may have changed such as in the public housing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9 October, 2014.

REPLY.
Managing the delivery of public services within Departmental Budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department, and several measures are in place to help ensure that these budgetary targets continue to be met.   My Department is in regular communication with all Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being controlled and we monitor the drawdown of funds from the Exchequer against Departmental published expenditure profiles.   Overall net expenditure to end-September, 2014 amounted to €30,982 million.   This was broadly on target at just €14 million ahead of profile.   The year-on-year reduction in expenditure amounted to €630 million, a decrease of 2.0%.    
With regard to the progress made on reform, since this Government took office, sustainable and far reaching Public Service Reform has been a key element of our strategy to meet the challenges that have faced the country in recent years.   Public Service Reform will also continue to play a key role in our recovery.    
We published our first Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011.   A Progress Report on the Reform Plan was published in September 2012 and a second Progress Report was published in January this year (www.reformplan.per.gov.ie).     These reports set out the significant progress that has been made to date.    
Some examples of this progress include:    
    while meeting increased demand for services, we have reduced staff numbers by around 32,000 or 10% since 2008 and the paybill has been reduced from €17.5 billion in 2009 to a forecasted €13.6 billion net by end 2014;
    new working arrangements have been introduced, including longer working hours, new rosters, and standardised arrangements for annual leave and sick leave;    
    we are implementing a radical overhaul of our approach to public procurement, with the Office of Government Procurement targeting savings of €500 million over three years;
    Peoplepoint the Civil Service wide Human Resources and Pensions Shared Services Centre has been operational since March last year and now services over 25,000 employees across 19 organisations;    
    an Action Plan to deliver efficiencies in the State’s property portfolio was published in mid 2013 and is currently being implemented;
    we have issued over 800,000 Public Services Cards, which are currently being used for social welfare payments and the free travel scheme, and will cover a greater range of services over time;
    the Office of Government Chief Information Officer has been established to maximise the potential benefits of digitalisation in delivering services and information;
    the Government services portal – www.gov.ie – includes quick links to more than 400 information and transaction services;
    we have launched a new Open Data portal – www.data.gov.ie – and a consultation process on data sharing;
    a series of public expenditure reforms have been implemented to bring greater structure, scrutiny and openness to budgeting;
    we are making good progress in implementing our programme of political and legislative reform, aimed at enhancing openness, transparency and accountability; and
    we will shortly publish a Civil Service Renewal Plan setting out a new vision and strategy for the Civil Service.
In January this year, I published the Government’s second Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016.   The actions set out in the Reform Plan include greater use of shared services and innovative approaches to service delivery; increased use of technology and improved engagement with service users; more efficient and effective public procurement and property management; increased accountability and transparency in public decision making; enhanced leadership and performance management; and a continued focus on building the required capacity and capability to deliver reform and service improvements across the Public Service.   Overall, I am satisfied that both the strong progress made to date and our future plans are in line with best practice across Europe and that the progress we are making is well regarded internationally.
 
In relation to the upcoming Budget, this Government has made some very difficult but necessary decisions over the past 3 years, decisions which have resulted in the restoration of a sustainable and viable economic future for the citizens of this Country.   The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure is currently being concluded and will inform Government decisions that will underpin the basis of the multi-annual expenditure ceilings which will be published as part of the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015 – 2017.   The exact expenditure measures required to meet these targets will be agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2015 taking into account macroeconomic developments.