Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress to date in the programme of work of the central evaluation unit in his Department. [23635/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to report substantial progress has been made in the programme of work of the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit (CEEU) in my Department. Following an external recruitment campaign, two specialist evaluators were appointed to the Unit, augmenting the internal expertise already in situ. In addition, two more evaluators joined the Unit on completion of the MSc in Policy Analysis Programme for civil servants run by the Faculty of Commerce at UCD and the Institute of Public Administration.

A key focus of the Unit's work to date in 2007 has been to check compliance with the Value for Money Frameworks by Government Departments and Agencies. Spending departments are required to establish systems to carry out spot-checks on projects to ensure compliance with the VfM Frameworks and to report their findings to my Department on an annual basis. While such spot-checks and the development of appropriate systems are the responsibility of Departments themselves, the CEEU reviews the reports received and reports their findings to the relevant sections in my Department who then engage with line Departments on any remedial action which may be required. The Unit is also undertaking its own spot-checks on a range of projects across a number of the major capital spending departments. CEEU spot checks are currently underway in the Departments of Health and Children; Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and Arts, Sport and Tourism. Spot checks in the Department of Transport have been completed and final reports will issue to that Department shortly.

The Unit has also played a pivotal role in overseeing programme evaluation under the scheme of Value for Money and Policy Reviews (VfMPRs). Along with coordinating progress under the agreed schedule of Reviews, the Unit has published a detailed Guidance Manual for officials tasked with carrying out VfMPRs. This represents an important step in transferring necessary skills to Departments and Agencies which will assist in fostering a greater culture of evaluation across the Government system.

Finally, with respect to development and implementation of a scheme of programme evaluation under the 2007 — 2013 National Development Plan, the Unit is in the midst of developing such a scheme covering the period up to and including the mid-term review in 2010. An outline of this scheme will be discussed at the first Monitoring Committee meeting later this year.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a report on the value for money initiative has been presented to him on its first year of work; the number and subject of reports completed; the value of the programmes involved; and if these reports have been published. [23636/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In July this year I submitted a report to Cabinet to update my colleagues on progress with the Value for Money and Policy Reviews. Under this initiative which was introduced in June 2006 some 90 reviews are to be carried out during the period June 2006 to end 2008. To date, 42 reviews are complete or substantially complete, with 24 having been fully completed. Details of the completed reviews and the value of the individual programmes concerned, which amount to some €2.2 billion in total, are set out in the table.

The reviews when completed will normally be published, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and submitted to the relevant Select Oireachtas Committee for consideration. Responsibility for carrying out each of the reviews, publishing them and submitting them to the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Select Committees rests with the individual Departments and Offices.