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Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 1984

Vol. 352 No. 5

Written Answers. - Analysis of Expenditure.

109.

asked the Minister for Finance if he supports the view that an analysis of future expenditure should be made as expressed in a publication (details supplied); if he envisages involving the joint committees and committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas in the analysis of expenditure programmes; and if there are any plans which would formally involve the committees in such a process.

I am anxious that all proposals for future expenditure are carefully scrutinised as a matter of course before a decision is made. My views on the need for critical evaluation of public expenditure were outlined recently in a paper which I presented to a seminar on "Value for Money" organised by the Institution of Engineers in Ireland. In order to facilitate in-depth examination of expenditure programmes, both existing and proposed, my Department has since the seventies operated for the Civil Service as a whole a scheme to select suitable officers for this type of work and train them in appropriate modern skills and techniques. The officers trained in analysis participate in the normal process by which advice is given to Ministers on expenditure.

The involvement of Oireachtas committees in analysis of expenditure programmes will be determined by their terms of reference. One committee in particular — the Public Expenditure Committee — is specifically charged with the review of selected areas of public expenditure. How this is done is a matter for the committee itself and I will be happy to support their efforts aimed at greater cost-effectiveness of public expenditure. Officers of my Department recently briefed the Public Expenditure Committee on the role of analysis in support of public expenditure decision-making.

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