Written answers
Tuesday, 29 November 2005
Department of Finance
Departmental Expenditure
9:00 pm
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the 54 expenditure reviews which have been initiated in 2005, distinguishing those which have been completed, indicating if any of the 54 are left over from the earlier programme; the aggregate value of annual expenditure covered by these reviews; and the way in which same have been selected. [36857/05]
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Based on information supplied by Departments, I am setting out as follows details of 54 expenditure reviews completed or under way in 2005 under the existing round of expenditure reviews. The indicative estimate of the expenditure covered by the reviews is over €3.8 billion. Some 12 of the reviews have been completed, 14 have been quality assessed and are close to completion, seven are at quality assessment stage, and 21 are ongoing. Any reviews not completed by the end of the year will be required to be completed as part of the 2006-08 round of expenditure reviews which I will be submitting to Government shortly for approval.
| Expenditure reviews underway or completed in 2005. | |||
| Department/Office | Title of Review | Indicative Estimate of Expenditure involved* | Status of Review |
| â'¬m | |||
| Agriculture & Food | Installation Aid | 10 | Quality assessed |
| Farm Waste Management | 39 | Quality assessed | |
| BSE Eradication | 30 | Quality assessed | |
| Compensatory Allowances | 232 | Quality assessed | |
| Early Retirement Scheme | 80 | Completed | |
| Arts, Sport & Tourism | Swimming Pools Programme | 32 | Ongoing |
| Irish Film Board | 15 | At quality assessment | |
| Sports Capital Programme | 52.9 | Completed | |
| Communications, Marine & Natural Resources | Energy, (Conservation and Alternative) | 16 | At quality assessment |
| Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs | Scéimeanna Feabhsúcháin sa Ghaeltacht | 11 | Quality assessed |
| Capital Expenditure on the off-shore islands 2000-2004 | 13 | Ongoing | |
| Ciste na Gaeilge | 3 | Ongoing | |
| Drugs Initiative | 13 | Quality assessed | |
| Defence | Maintenance of Aircraft | 9 | Quality assessed |
| Defence Forces Clothing Programme | 3 | Ongoing | |
| Education & Science | Supply Panel for Primary teaching | 2 | Quality assessed |
| Youth encounter Projects | 2 | Ongoing | |
| 1st & 2nd Level Building Programmes; Topic 2 | 36 | Quality assessed | |
| Schools Information Communication Technology programmes | 16 | Ongoing | |
| Information Communication Technology undergraduate skills programmes | 38 | Quality assessed | |
| Enterprise, Trade & Employment | Science & Technology Spending | 97 | Quality assessed |
| Cross Departmental Review supports to the long term unemployed | 1,863 | At Quality Assessment | |
| Environment, Heritage & Local Government | Motor Tax on-line initiative | 2 | Ongoing |
| Finance | Change Management Fund | 2 | Quality assessed |
| Institute of Public Administration | 3 | Quality assessed | |
| Information Society | 9 | Ongoing | |
| Economic & Social Research Institute | 3 | Ongoing | |
| Foreign Affairs | Assistance to Eastern Europe | 1.1 | Completed |
| Support to Afghanistan | 6 | Completed | |
| Development Co-operation Ireland's Support for Education in Uganda and Zambia | 12.2 | Completed | |
| Justice, Equality & Law Reform | Maintenance of Garda Premises | 7 | Ongoing |
| Asylum/immigration | 124 | At quality assessment | |
| Prisons Capital Projects | 56 | Ongoing | |
| Staff training and development in the Courts Service | 1 | Ongoing | |
| Irish Prison Service Review of Healthcare | 13.7 | Completed | |
| Courthouse Maintenance & Capital Building Refurbishment | 27 | Completed | |
| Houses of the Oireachtas | Parliamentary Information Programme Phase II | 0.4 | At quality assessment |
| Oireachtas Broadcasting Programme | 1.3 | Completed | |
| Revenue Commissioners | Use of outsourced service providers to support returns processing | 2 | At quality assessment |
| Social & Family Affairs | Supplementary Welfare Allowance Phase 2 | 650 | Ongoing |
| Unemployment Benefit/Assistance for atypical workers | 175 | Ongoing | |
| Back to Education Allowance | 44.2 | Completed | |
| Taoiseach | National Economic & Social Council/National Economic & Social Forum/National Economic & Social Development Office | 2.7 | Ongoing |
| Transport | Cross Departmental Review on Road Safety | 44.9 | At quality assessment |
| Central Statistics Office | Social & Demographic Statistics | 10 | Completed |
| Business Statistics Programme | # | Ongoing | |
| Attorney General's Office | Law Reform Commission | 1.9 | Ongoing |
| Attorney General's Scheme (jointly with Chief State Solicitors) | # | Quality assessed | |
| Chief State Solicitor's Office | Use of Stenographers | # | Ongoing |
| Costs Recovery | # | Ongoing | |
| Comptroller & Auditor General | Contracting out of audits to private sector accountancy firms | # | Ongoing |
| Director of Public Prosecutions | Bail applications before the High Court | # | Ongoing |
| State Laboratory | Operation and Management of the IT Systems in the State Laboratory | 0.4 | Completed |
| Ombudsman's Office | Public awareness & publicity initiatives | 0.08 | Completed |
| * Based on the 2005 Revised Estimates Volume unless otherwise indicated. | |||
| # Figures for the expenditure involved are not readily available. |
The Government approved the topics for review for the first year and the indicative list of topics for the second and third years of the existing round of expenditure reviews and the overall arrangements for carrying out reviews. In general, review topics were to focus on major policy issues or significant levels of expenditure. The expenditure review process is overseen by the expenditure review central steering committee. The committee is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and its secretariat is also provided by my Department. Responsibility for the conduct of the reviews rests with individual Departments and offices. Any questions regarding individual expenditure reviews should therefore be directed to the relevant Departments or offices.
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all topics for expenditure review which have been submitted to him by Departments as part of his work in putting together a new programme of expenditure review; and the value of spending in each case. [36858/05]
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 354 of 22 November last, I will be bringing proposals to Government shortly for approval of topics for review in 2006-08. My Department is currently in consultations with other Departments in this regard and I am not therefore in a position to give details of reviews planned for 2006-08.
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