Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, his staff, and members of the committee, both here and remotely, and those viewing from outside or on television.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place in which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement.

We now move to No. 1, which is the consideration of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023, Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for public services in respect of the following be referred to this committee for consideration: Vote 13 - Office of Public Works. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, and his officials.

Members have received the briefing documents provided by the Department in advance, and I thank the officials for providing these. The purpose of this meeting is to consider the Revised Estimates and performance information regarding the outputs and impacts of programme expenditure. The programme-based structure of the Estimates should allow the committee to focus on what the Department has committed to achieving in terms of actual outputs and outcomes; consider whether the performance targets included in the Estimates are a sufficiently complete description of the services provided by the Department; whether these targets strike the right balance in terms of the needs of society; and consider whether the information provided by the Department makes clear how the moneys available are allocated between services, and whether these allocations are the most appropriate in the circumstances.

I call the Minister of State to make his opening remarks.