Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his programme of savings throughout the public sector to date remains on target with particular reference to the dual and sometimes conflicting needs to cut expenditure and maintain services; if he will set out those areas which to date have achieved the best results in this regard; the areas and or sectors which require further attention; if he remains satisfied that the twin objectives of reducing public expenditure in line with budgetary and Troika requirements as entered into by his predecessors and the need to maintain frontline services continue to be achievable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43386/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is making good progress on achieving all of our targets and priorities. We are 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. In determining policy, the Government has to take account of a wide range of often competing considerations and policy priorities while living up to its commitments by delivering on all the conditions and targets in the EU/IMF Programme by the required deadlines.

Expenditure in 2012 is being kept under close scrutiny and control, including in the context of monitoring and reporting arrangements under the EU/IMF agreement. Ireland is committed under the EU-IMF programme to reducing the overall size and costs of the public service. All Government Departments and agencies simply have to deliver better value to the public in order to reduce the deficit and protect frontline services.

This Government's commitment to reforming our entire public service while protecting front-line services can be exemplified in the publication of the Public Service Reform Plan which highlights a range of specific and time bound commitments which involve a freeing up of administrative resources, and a reprioritisation of resources generally, to ensure that services can continue to be delivered to the public in as cost effective a way as possible.