Dr. Patrick Moran:

After the tagging programme is implemented, we will have visibility on where the expenditure is that is directed at improving biodiversity outcomes across all the different Departments and what programmes are included. That improves the transparency around the allocations of public funding.

The Deputy asked earlier what impact it will have on the outcome metrics and the metrics we are reporting. It will require Departments to define metrics that can capture the impact of those programmes that are spending money on improving biodiversity outcomes if they are going to examine value for money or how effectively that expenditure is being used. From our perspective, the first step is getting more clarity and visibility on where the money is being allocated and how it is being spent over the course of the year. The responsibility will then be more on Departments to demonstrate that the expenditure is having the intended effect.

To the Deputy's earlier question, it is all part of the refinement or iterative process of improving the metrics we report and the level of detail of those metrics. Departments will have to be more specific about what metrics are measuring the things they want to do. That will influence the public service performance report. However, the public service performance report will never be able to capture all of the different metrics across all the programmes that people are interested in. It will be a matter of integrating that into each Department's policy development cycle so there is knowledge of how much is being allocated and whether or not it is having the intended effect.