Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the nature and outcome of any value for money audit carried out by her Department during the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25705/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative is part of a framework introduced to secure improved value for money from public expenditure. The objectives of the initiative are to analyse Exchequer spending in a systematic manner and to provide a basis on which more informed decisions can be made on priorities within and between programmes.

Two value for money reviews were undertaken by my Department since 2006. A value for money review of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) was published on 29 July 2008 and is available on the Department's website at http://www.entemp.ie/science/technology/publications.htm. The review, inter alia, found SFI's programmes and activities to be valid and supportive of wider economic and innovation policy objectives, and that they should continue to pursue their core mission of funding research excellence in areas where Ireland can compete successfully on a global scale. The review contained ten recommendations which are currently being implemented. The review was laid before the Oireachtas, as required under the terms of the Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative and was discussed at the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment last summer.

A further review in relation to the FÁS Competency Development Programme is at final drafting stage and my Department expects to publish this review later this year. Finally, two further reviews will be undertaken by my Department, under the 2009-2011 round of the Value for Money and Policy Reviews Initiative, and these will be published and presented to the relevant Oireachtas Committee in due course.