Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The additional matters I referred to with regard to value for money and dealing with ICT contracts arise from the PPARS problems which came to my attention over the course of last summer. I set out general procedures to be put in place by Departments which provide for more vigorous competition for public sector contracts, fixed price lump sum contracts as the norm for construction projects valued at above €30 million, the allocation of individual responsibility for capital projects, ex-ante evaluation, including economic cost benefit appraisal for projects costing more than €30 million, a formalised review by Departments and agencies of contracts for projects costing more than €30 million with reports to the Minister and provision for audit by the Department of Finance, a performance table for Departments and State agencies regarding the extent of project outcomes versus budgets on contracts and a range of other matters. As Minister for Finance, I asked my colleagues to ensure that, as the political heads of their respective Departments, they managed contracts and expenditure in the manner I suggested and that process is now in place. I augmented rather than replaced existing procedures to ensure sufficient controls exist to ensure proper public expenditure. These procedures will assist and reinforce our efforts in that area.

As regards specific projects which have proved problematic in terms of management and design or construction and completion, questions put directly to the Ministers concerned will elicit full and up-to-date information.

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