Billy Timmins
Question:131 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the recommendations, if any, of EAG 1 which have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/98]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Review.
Arising from the recommendations of an efficiency scrutiny of the Department of Defence commissioned by the Efficiency Audit Group, the Government, in April 1993, approved the implementation of proposals to give greater financial delegation to the military authorities.
Since 1994, the amount of expenditure delegated to the military authorities has increased annually. The total amount delegated to the military in 1998 is £76.5 million, which represents 64 per cent of the Defence Forces element of the Vote, excluding pay and compensation. The question of further delegation is being kept under review.
The report to the Efficiency Audit Group on the Efficiency Scrutiny of the Department of Defence made a number of supporting recommendations, including a major strengthening of the Department's audit function, and the creation of a departmental policy unit. The majority of these recommendations were implemented before the reform process was subsumed into the second and third EAG studies into the Defence Forces.