Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on giving the Oireachtas the power to initiate an evaluation of spending programmes under the value for money initiative. [21863/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I think it is important that the Oireachtas should engage with evaluation of spending programmes under the Value for Money Initiative, and in this regard the Deputy will be aware that the Orders of Reference for the Select Committees of the 30th Dáil specifically encompass consideration of the reviews completed under this initiative. The Deputy will also be aware that my predecessor wrote to the Chairpersons of all Dáil Select Committees on 1st February this year encouraging them to ensure that the Committees schedule time to consider Value for Money and Policy Reviews in detail, and where appropriate, to discuss the Reviews and their conclusions and recommendations with the relevant Department.

In my view this approach combined with the submission of Annual Output Statements to the Select Committees facilitates enhanced scrutiny and evaluation of the Estimates by the Dáil and ensures accountability for what is being achieved with the moneys approved.