Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

213. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the mechanism in place to address cross-departmental barriers to reform, and saving of public funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18121/15]

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

The reform programme, as set out in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan, and its successor the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, adopts a whole-of-Government approach to reforming our public services across all sectors, including health, education, justice and local government, as well as the Civil Service.  The Reform and Delivery Office (RDO) in my Department monitors the progress being made in making reforms a reality.

Integrated Reform Delivery Plans, prepared annually by all Departments and major Offices, set out the key actions required to ensure the successful delivery of the priority cross cutting reform initiatives set out in the Public Service Reform Plan, as well as sector-specific reform initiatives and actions from the Haddington Road Agreement.  Departments and Offices are required to produce regular reports on progress under these plans for the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform.

The RDO works closely with each of the main sectors of the Public Service - including Health, Education and Justice. In doing so, through training and other measures, the RDO aims to ensure that the appropriate governance structures are in place so that barriers to reforms can be identified and adequately addressed.

In addition, the Civil Service Renewal Plan published last October provides for the establishment of a Civil Service Management Board compromising of Secretaries General from all Departments and heads of all major Offices. The Civil Service Management Board has collective responsibility for the implementation of the Civil Service Renewal Plan.

As regards expenditure management, among the key reforms introduced by this Government, and one which allows us to identify expenditure pressures and priorities over multiple years, are the periodic reviews of which ensure that resources are used in the most effective and efficient manner. The most recent review was carried out in 2014 and included an examination of cross-cutting issues by the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit in my Department. These reports are available on the Department's website.

Finally, the Government has greatly enhanced the role of Dáil Éireann's Select Committees through the implementation of a whole-of-year budgeting process which ensures that the Ministerial expenditure allocations and their expected outputs are effectively scrutinised.

Overall, the reforms put in place over the past 4 years have enabled us to maintain and improve public services, in spite of the considerable fiscal constraints facing us during this period.