Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Subhead 7 relates, for instance, to the ESRI which operates a model in terms of economic income distribution in Ireland called SWITCH. It examines the social impact of budgets. We pay the ESRI for that service.

On pensions policy reserve, about which I spoke, last year we commissioned the OECD to do some work. There are also ongoing reviews of pension fees and costs to pension scheme contributors. We also have an ongoing modernisation programme in the Department. We receive advice on how to do this in upskilling and training staff on IT developments, about which I spoke. We have what is called Business Objects Modelling Advice and Expertise. To deal with and reduce backlogs, we have used advice extensively in updating and upgrading IT platforms.

Other headings in that regard relate to value for money policy reviews and other such areas. We also carried out a review of the domiciliary care allowance and how it was operating. We get advice and technical advice on that.