Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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933. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he has taken to develop behavioural economic insights analysis in his Department; if his Department has met with the ERSI on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26401/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In January 2016, it was agreed that the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, in its remit as the lead Department for the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), would take the policy lead in bringing a more coherent, planned and informed approach to the application of Behavioural Economics in the Irish public service. 

My Department is progressing work on Behavioural Economics in a number of areas. The DPER IGEES Unit has been working on carrying out a small number of pilot trials using Behavioural Economics, such as an ongoing randomised control trial with the Department of Social Protection to improve attendance rates at jobseekers' meetings. The results of this trial will be published early next year. The DPER IGEES Unit has also been providing assistance and guidance to other Departments considering projects using Behavioural Economic insights. The IGEES Unit has also been working on developing toolkits and templates to help Departments apply Behavioural Economics in their own policy areas. The Climate Change Evaluation Unit in my Department has also been exploring sectoral behavioural insights to help inform climate policy.

It is intended to publish a paper later this year which will provide further details on my Department's work on Behavioural Economics. The paper will also set out how Behavioural Economics fits into the existing policy framework in Ireland. This builds on previous publications by my Department, which published a paper on Behavioural Economics in 2014, setting out an introduction to behavioural insights and the potential applications in Irish policy. The 2014 paper is available on the website of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation.

My Department has met with a wide range of stakeholders, including the ERSI, to discuss the application of Behavioural Economics in Irish policy-making.