Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236, 237, 239, 240 and 243 together.

The Government’s approach to public expenditure policy is set out in the Medium Term Expenditure Strategy (MTES). This framework must be responsive to the economic landscape and is reviewed annually as part of the whole of year budget process including the Summer Economic Statement and the Estimates process.

It is important to highlight that, managing expenditure within their ceiling and the related allocations voted by Dáil Éireann, and the terms of the sanction provided by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister. This is underpinned by monthly monitoring of expenditure against profiled spend as published in the Fiscal Monitor.

Nevertheless, budgetary and expenditure reform is also a key feature of public expenditure management and is progressed in a number of ways including through regular engagement across Departments on cross cutting issues and through the public service reform programme. This is progressed through a range of initiatives including:

• Performance Budgeting;

• Equality Budgeting;

• Green Budgeting;

• Well-being framework; and

• The Spending Review Process.

Together, these reforms aim to provide a more comprehensive insight into how public services are supporting society. They consider not only how and where the money is spent but also the impact of public expenditure across different cohorts of society.

Central to any best practices within an administration, my Department regularly engages in international fora, including with OECD working parties and committees in order gain insights and share in discussion surrounding fiscal policy. These discussions focus on budgetary reforms, and evaluation practices, and other areas that strengthen our ability to respond to economic, social and environmental challenges.

This is supported by the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service (IGEES), who have led the development of a number of additional and improved processes and the publication of reports to support the budgetary framework.

In addition to this, in 2023 I launched Better Public Services, the public service transformation strategy. To ensure that reform will continue to play a central role in ensuring prudent expenditure and optimum value for money in the provision of public services throughout 2024.

The strategy comprises three central pillars aimed at delivering transformation at scale: Digital and Innovation at Scale; Workforce and Organisation of the Future; and Evidence-Informed Policies and Services Designed for and with our Public and my Department is currently coordinating a number of cross government reform initiatives under each of these pillars.

This strategy also incorporates priorities articulated in a number of sectoral reform programmes. This will ensure that the public service will work collaboratively to deliver those reforms at a scale that will ensure value for money for the people of Ireland. By way of ensuring the delivery of organisational reforms and service improvements, Public Service Bodies are requested to identify and prioritise relevant actions that align to the overarching themes of Better Public Services when developing their own corporate strategies and business plans.

To ensure these reform efforts are delivered at scale across the wider Public Service, my Department coordinates the Public Service Leadership Board, which draws on senior leadership from across the Public Service to monitor and advance progress in driving reform.