asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to introduce changes in the present arrangements governing spending by Government Departments ensuring that such Departments pay for all of the costs of their work materials out of their own budgets rather than the present arrangement which allows them to order and utilise resources and services which are not paid by them directly.
Written Answers. - Departmental Spending.
13.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to such areas as the provision of services at present accounted for under the Votes for the Office of Public Works and the Stationery Office.
The position is that the previous administration decided following a review of the functions and role of the Office of Public Works that all services provided by the Office of Public Works to other Departments and Offices should be on a repayment basis — the repayment to include a charge for overheads. My Department has been in discussion with the Office of Public Works as to how this decision might best be implemented.
In relation to charging for services provided by the Stationery Office, a necessary precondition is a proper costing system. A consultancy study is in progress which will enable such a system to be installed.