Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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413. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has carried out any comparative analysis of productivity between Ireland's public sector and private sector over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63579/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Comparisons between public- and private-sector productivity are inherently difficult, as public services often produce non-market outputs that cannot be easily quantified or valued in the same way as private-sector goods and services.

A strong system of public administration is vitally important, not only for managing the economy but also for guiding society as a whole. It underpins national competitiveness and productivity by creating a supportive institutional environment. In doing so, it offers the stability and operational efficiency needed to foster investment, encourage innovation, and enable sustainable growth.

Government receives advice from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) on issues relating to productivity performance, competitiveness challenges, and the policy actions needed to address them. This also encompasses analysis of public-sector productivity, including how the efficiency and effectiveness of public services contribute to Ireland’s overall economic performance.

The NCPC is currently developing a Competitiveness Bulletin examining the performance of Ireland’s public sector, informed by a new international measure – the Blavatnik Index of Public Administration. In its work, the NCPC regularly uses a wide variety of international benchmarks to contextualise Ireland’s performance and support evidence-based policymaking.

I look forward to the forthcoming publication of the NCPC Competitiveness Bulletin and to continued engagement with the Council on this critically important issue. The Government also recognises the significant opportunities presented by digitalisation and emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance public-sector productivity. The publication of the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service (May 2025) provides an important foundation for ensuring that AI is adopted in a safe, transparent, and ethical manner. More broadly, digital solutions can expand capacity, improve service quality, and reduce administrative burdens for citizens and businesses. In 2025, the Government will publish an updated National Digital and AI Strategy, setting out a strengthened cross-Government vision to maximise the benefits of the digital transformation and to accelerate the use of AI to support public service delivery and reform.