Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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254. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the cost of each exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43335/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Value for money reviews are part of an ongoing process of expenditure evaluation and are carried out under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Spending Code.

The purpose of these reviews is to examine spending in specific areas to provide a strong evidential basis on which more informed decisions can be made. In particular, reviews evaluate the objectives justifying spending, whether those objectives have been achieved, the efficiency of the approach taken and how the approach taken compares to possible alternatives.

My Department published a value for money and policy review of Prisoner Escorts in the Criminal Justice System in September 2018. The review is available on my Department's website at

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The review was undertaken between January 2017 and August 2018 under the direction of a Steering Committee comprising representatives of my Department, the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána, and the Courts Service, and with an independent chair. It drew upon extensive expert input, including from external stakeholders. The total cost of the review was €85,413.

This review found that while the current system has many strengths, there are opportunities for improvement including scope to significantly reduce prisoner court appearances through greater use of video-link facilities, streamlined warrant and committal procedures and the improvement of logistics and technical support capabilities.

A delivery oversight group has been established to further assess the recommendations and to put in place an implementation programme. My Department is actively progressing the development of legislation to provide for the increased use of video-link evidence.