Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 30: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the monitoring systems in place within his Department to measure the effectiveness of the various programmes for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware my Department administers and delivers a wide range of programmes. So as to ensure that these programmes are delivered effectively, efficiently and that the objectives of these programmes are being achieved, this Department has since its establishment developed and put in place various systems of effectiveness and performance monitoring, control, review and evaluation for these programmes.

In addition to the routine financial and performance monitoring arrangements that takes place at divisional level throughout this Department, the series of corporate monitoring and performance measurement systems that are in place in this Department include:

The Internal Audit Unit carry out programme audits, value for money audits and effectiveness reviews annually and make recommendations to MAC where required;

The Department has a designated Gaeltacht and Rural Inspectorate function in place, specifically charged with the monitoring of projects and the assessment of the effectiveness and deliverables arising from the programmes that this Department funds and delivers;

The Department participates in the Expenditure Review Initiative (Evaluation of Value for Money and Effectiveness in Public Expenditure) process;

A number of independent effectiveness reviews have been commissioned by experts in specific fields of activity funded through the Departmental Vote and Mid-Term Evaluations have been carried out for all the programmes funded under the NDP; and

The Department has formalised procedures and arrangements in respect of project verification and post project evaluation.

My Department continues to develop, embed and enhance on an ongoing basis the evaluation and review mechanisms that have been established. In this regard the Department commissioned the IPA to assess the performance and effectiveness indicators in place for the various Departmental programmes and work is ongoing in relation to this through the RAB (Reform of the Budget and Estimates) process. This review and the ongoing development of relevant performance and effectiveness indicators will further enable this Department to evaluate and analyse effectiveness and the impact of programme spending.