Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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621. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the shared services projects commenced across the public service since 2011; the costs associated with these projects for each year; when these projects will generate an overall net saving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48799/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Shared services have been identified in the Local Government Efficiency Review and the Public Service Reform Plans as an important opportunity to make further savings in administrative costs, through streamlining and improving service delivery without impacting on front line services. This builds on practical experience , over many years, in the local government sector of local authorities co-operating in the performance of functions and the delivery of services, including on a regional basis. To drive the reform agenda, and in particular shared service initiatives, in the local government sector, a dedicated Programme Management Office (PMO) has been established which reports to a high-level Oversight Group. The roll out of shared services and process improvements across the sector is supported by the use of shared expertise, a shared technical infrastrucutre supported by the Local Government Management Agency and a singular local government web portal.

Overall, 31 operational areas have been identified for examination for potential as a shared service or other collaborative approach that may provide efficiencies. The PMO has adopted a comprehensive methodology for the development and evaluation of projects including gathering and analysing baseline data, business case preparation and peer review of business cases.

Payroll/Superannuation, Building Control, Treasury Management, Procurement and Accounts Payable have been prioritised in the shared services programme in the short to medium term and the programme is being progressed using a lead authority model. A number of other shared services are currently under development including services in debt management, veterinary services, road management systems and the register of electors.

Following a competitive bidding process in 2013, Laois County Council was selected to provide Shared Payroll and Superannuation services on behalf of all local authorities and has established a shared services centre for that purpose in Portlaoise. This shared service commenced in January 2014 and all local authorities will transition to it in waves in the period to 2016.

In relation to procurement, the local authority sector is working closely with the Office of Government Procurement to deliver significant savings over the coming years.The table below shows the costs associated with each project to date, as well as the anticipated benefits. No costs were incurred for these projects prior to 2013.