asked the Minister for Agriculture the system which exists in his Department for reviewing public expenditure programmes administered by his Department to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of such programmes with a view to determining from the point of view of public policy whether such programmes could be carried out more effectively or whether they answer the needs such programmes were originally intended to serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Expenditure Programmes.
5.
Ensuring that expenditure programmes are implemented as effectively and efficiently as possible is a normal and ongoing responsibility of management within my Department. In addition, policy appraisal using formal techniques of cost-effectiveness analysis and investment appraisal is undertaken by specialist staff, and this work is collated for an annual internal review. Also the preparation of the annual "Comprehensive Public Expenditure Programmes" in which my Department participate, provides a framework for the monitoring of expenditure on a programme basis.
Have any special changes taken place in the Department since, say, 1980 or 1981 to review public expenditure programmes?
Yes, there have been changes. We have the services of analysts who are gradutes with a two-year training programme run by the Department of Finance working in the economic unit of the Department. The Department also have access to the services of trainee analysts attached to the Department of Finance. These specialist staff have completed many studies and individual schemes and programmes which have been used in the general policy development and line management work of my Department. These studies frequently but not exclusively, use quantitative evaluation techniques, such as cost benefit analysis and cost effectiveness analysis of investment. Basically, they are looking at schemes like the farm modernisation scheme, the animal health scheme, the drainage schemes, and so on, and considering their cost effectiveness.
When were these analysts introduced into the Department? In respect of, for example, the scheme for the eradication of bovine diseases, which this year it is estimated will cost £31 million, were the changes the result of analysis carried out by these analysts? That scheme has been in existence for over 20 years and has resulted in a very great deal of public money being badly spent. Did the analysts recommend changes in that scheme?
I have no doubt they did.
When were they introduced to the Department?
This work started in the Department as far back as 1977.
It is generally accepted that so much money was wasted in the bovine diseases eradication scheme that a more effective way should be introduced——
That is more for an Estimate debate.
Would the Minister ensure that the present scheme is as efficient as it might be?
It seems to be coming up with some good results in the area of animal health and in other areas.
Is the Minister satisfied that the staff in the economic and other units and the analysts in the Department have sufficient background training in agriculture to understand the needs of the industry and the problems facing farmers?
I am sure they have because they report to people in the Department, and eventually to an assistant secretary. This shows that the analysts are not working in isolation.