Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the targets in respect of public expenditure reform and/or the elimination of waste and duplication throughout the public service have been achieved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4061/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that all Government Departments and/or bodies under their aegis are fully compliant with cost cutting measures identified and incorporated in the memorandum of understanding entered into by his predecessors; if any particular areas require greater efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4062/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that the targets set in respect of the savings to date are in accord with the expectations and approval of the troika; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4063/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if in the course of the recent visit by the troika, any particular areas of cost cutting and/or reform were identified as being in need of improvement; the extent to which the progress made to date is in line with original expectations and targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4064/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which each Department has managed to achieve the savings and reform required in the context of national recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4065/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that the progress made to date in respect of public expenditure and reform are sufficiently on target to meet the criteria set out in the memorandum of understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4067/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified the cause or causes of any cost overruns in each Department; the action required to address any such issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4068/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which cost overruns by groups, bodies or agencies under the aegis of all Government Departments have been identified and remedial measures put in place to address the cause or causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4069/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 to 273, inclusive and 275 to 277, inclusive, together.

As is clear from the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-2014 published on 5 December last, the Capital Infrastructure Plan published on 10 November 2011, the Implementation Body publication of the Public Service Agreement Progress Report on the 17 November 2011, and the Public Service Reform Plan also published on 17 November 2011, the Government is making good progress on achieving all of our targets and priorities, as articulated in the Government Programme, in terms of both bringing public expenditure back to a sustainable level and driving forward the public service reform agenda to ensure that efficiencies and reformed work practices play a full part in contributing to the overall budgetary consolidation effort.

As regards revisions to previously established objectives under the EU/IMF Programme, I would point out to the Deputy that this Government successfully renegotiated significant elements of the Programme – for example the Jobs Initiative, the ending of further asset transfers to NAMA, reversal of the Minimum Wage cut, the provision that fiscal measures specified in the programme could be substituted by others of equally good quality and we successfully renegotiated the interest rate charged for the loans, along with important changes and improvements to the EU's EFSF funding facility.

Ireland is living up to its end of the bargain by delivering on all the conditions and targets in the EU/IMF Programme by the required deadlines. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the fifth quarterly review took place from 10th-19th January. The mission was a success and the overall assessment was positive. Ireland is meeting all of the conditions and targets of our programme, including all reform and expenditure targets. The Government has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to meeting the targets agreed with our European and IMF partners.