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

315. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the areas of public expenditure and reform which he has identified as being most in need of specific attention for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37075/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In line with the requirements of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, my Department is currently developing a new Statement of Strategy for presentation to me within six months of my appointment. This strategy will build on the successful track record of the Department by setting out its strategic direction for the period 2021-2023.  My priorities and relevant commitments in the Programme for Government will be reflected in the new Strategy. 

The overall role of my Department is to implement a strong and sustainable public expenditure framework and to drive the reform programme across the Civil and Public Service in order to support the delivery of public services as efficiently and effectively as possible.  My priorities are focused on these areas and include key issues such as:

Sustainable Public Expenditure

- To continue to manage public expenditure effectively while addressing challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and Climate Change;

- To produce multiannual Estimates and Expenditure Statements that meet Government objectives, EU commitments and support economic, social and climate-related progress on a fiscally sustainable basis, and to monitor voted expenditure outturns and trends during the year;

- To mainstream budgetary reforms to promote certainty and discipline regarding the level and broad composition of public expenditure over the medium term, to enhance the quality of performance information and to continually develop the evidence-based approach to expenditure policy formulation, including through the key role of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service and through the promotion of the linkage between the allocation of resources and the proposed wellbeing framework;

- To manage public service pay and pension costs on a fiscally sustainable basis using agreed industrial relations frameworks and advance solutions to support the effective administration of the Single Pension Scheme;

- To oversee the review of the National Development Plan and alignment with the National Planning Framework as part of Project Ireland 2040;

- To address the challenges posed by Brexit, while maximising the opportunities presented by EU membership in a range of EU policy areas.  We will make the best use of EU funding, including the existing European Structural and Investment Funds and the new Recovery and Resilience Facility and Brexit Adjustment Reserve, and promote North-South cooperation, including through PEACE PLUS;

- Reform and Innovation

- To lead the implementation of Our Public Service 2020 to deliver better outcomes for the public, build effective public service organisations, and develop a culture of innovation as part of the reform programme, and to develop and lead Our Public Service 2030;

- To lead the development and implementation of a ten year Civil Service Renewal Vision and Strategy Statement and the first of three operational plans;

- To promote and support open, accountable and transparent government and public administration and good governance in the Public Service;

- To lead and support the development and implementation of a new Civil Service People Strategy, which reflects the workplace transformation that has taken place as a result of Covid-19 and challenges traditional ways of working to support business continuity and effectiveness into the future;

- To drive the implementation of the GovTech priority actions and the Public Service ICT, Data and eGovernment strategies, with particular focus on those initiatives that will improve delivery of public services, encourage take-up of digital services, encourage sharing and promote the use of data as a key enabler of better services; and

- To lead the Procurement Reform Programme, to enable effective, sustainable and compliant procurement across the Public Service.

- I would add that my Department has an important role in respect of service delivery to other public bodies and priorities in that regard include: 

- Service Delivery

- To deliver effective and efficient ICT services to relevant public bodies as part of the Build to Share programme and use the OGCIO Vote to support the sustainable development and delivery of these services;

- To ensure oversight, value for money and evidence based prioritisation of learning solutions by OneLearning, which has responsibility for all L&D that is common across the Civil Service;

- To implement projects to strengthen HR service delivery across the Civil Service, including the Human Capital Management Project, HR Operating Model and the CSHRD Centre of Expertise; and

- To continue to drive an integrated approach to public procurement through the Office of Government Procurement and to provide a range of procurement solutions for the Public Service, delivering value for money, compliance and risk reduction.