Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - the Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 -the Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised)
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I have identified three risks in that regard. The first is the maintenance at current levels of cost price inflation for projects that are publicly tendered and the risk that cost price inflation could accelerate in the future. Second is the matter raised by Deputy Tóibín, that is, our ability to move important public projects, and in particular I highlight infrastructural projects in energy, through our planning system.
Third, and I am a little bit more optimistic about the third one than I have been for a while, is the availability of the staff and expertise within our economy to move forward larger projects. In particular, I would point to issues like engineering staff and where we are with planning personnel. I think that may get a bit better in the time ahead but, in my engagement with Ministers, they are the three key issues. Of course Departments will always make the case for more money so they can move more projects forward. Leaving that aside for a moment, they are three factors that pose the most challenge to our work.
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