Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 25 together.

Gross Voted expenditure has been reduced from its peak of €63.1 billion in 2009 to €54.6 billion in 2013. This represents a reduction of approximately 13.5% between 2009 and 2013. Estimated Voted expenditure for 2014 will be in the region of €53 billion, with a targeted general Government deficit of 4.8%. We have made remarkable progress.

This radical improvement in the sustainability of the public finances has helped to achieve our successful exit from the EU-IMF programme of financial assistance. It has been delivered through the efforts of all Ministers and Departments and their agencies to seek savings, pursue efficiencies and manage within constrained budgets, often while meeting increasing demands for the public services they deliver. In this respect, the public service reform plan has been an essential part of the Government's approach in addressing the challenges posed by reduced resources. The reform plan requires a refocus on business processes and adjustments to the way all public bodies use available resources. It promotes changes to the way individual public servants go about their daily work and greater flexibility in the way services are provided, for example, with greater use of technology and shared services. The Government is committed to making fundamental changes to the way the public service operates to safeguard the delivery of essential services in a way that is in keeping with the needs of a modern society, while driving and maintaining value for money.

Managing the delivery of public services within its budgetary allocation is a key responsibility of each Minister. Several measures are in place to help ensure these budgetary targets continue to be met I have referenced some of them. The Department is in regular communication with all Departments and offices to ensure expenditure is controlled and we monitor their draw-down of funds from the Exchequer against the published expenditure profiles. Where necessary, the Department regularly meets line Departments to review financial management. There is regular reporting to the Government on these matters and we publish information monthly as part of the Exchequer statement.

On the reform front, the Deputy will be aware of the public service reform plan published last week, together with a review of performance to date under the original plan. This shows the strong progress made to date by each Department and agency in pursuing the reform plan. Following last week's publication, Departments and offices are preparing new integrated reform delivery plans which comprise central cross-cutting reforms, as well as organisational and sectoral reforms, and outline the progress made in the implementation of the Haddington Road agreement. The plans will maintain a particular focus on increasing efficiency and improving outcomes for service users. Progress will continue to be monitored by the Department and reported on regularly to the Cabinet sub-committee.

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