Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The measures I announced on 20 October 2005 on value for money build on existing structures to assist better management of capital projects and programmes and follow the initiative announced by the Government on 11 October on the management of information and communications technology projects and consultancies. I have written to all Ministers asking them to ensure their Departments take immediate steps to implement the measures in areas under their remit. Follow-up work is under way in my Department on updating existing guidelines to ensure all the measures are implemented in full. My Department will write to Departments to notify them of formal changes to existing capital appraisal, procurement, ICT and consultancy guidelines and practice and outline plans for further developments on foot of my announcement.

All other guidance from my Department on matters relating to the better management and delivery of capital and IT projects remain fully in force. This includes rules and guidance for ICT and consultancy, public procurement, public private partnerships and appraisal and management of capital programmes. Primary responsibility for managing capital programmes and projects, ICT projects and consultancies and securing value for money from them rests with line Departments and their implementing agencies. However, I am satisfied that the range of measures in place will better assist Departments and agencies in this respect.

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