Vol. 408 No. 1
114 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline in respect of the Efficiency Audit Group (1) its composition (2) the date of its establishment (3) its terms of reference (4) the Minister to whom it reports (5) the number of reports issued since its establishment (6) the title of each such report (7) the degree of implementation and (8) the future work programme for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The composition of the Efficiency Audit Group is as follows: Professor Patrick Geary, Chairman, Professor of Economics, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth; Mr. K. Murphy, Secretary, Public Service Management and Development, Department of Finance; Mr. R.J. Curran, Second Secretary, Department of Finance; Mr. P. Teahon, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach; Mr. P. Flynn, General Secretary, IMPACT, Mr. Alex Spain, Chairman, National Irish Bank; Mr. Peter Malone, Managing Director, Jury's Hotel Group; and Mr. A.D. Barry, Group Chief Executive, CRH plc.
The group was established in April 1988 to examine the workings and practices of public Departments and agencies with a view to recommending improved or alternative practices and methods which would reduce costs and improve efficiency. The group, in conjunction with the appropriate management, seeks to establish whether, by more efficient or alternative work procedures, costs could be reduced or better services provided at the same cost.
The group reports to the Taoiseach.
Since its establishment, the group have reviewed a number of general aspects of the administration of Government Departments and recommended a system of delegated administrative budgets. Administrative budgets were introduced on a pilot basis initally but are now being applied across all Departments and Offices. The group have been involved in monitoring the progress of a hospital review initiated last year. It has undertaken an efficiency review in the Department of Defence and is considering a report arising from that review. It has not issued any report to date.
As regards the future work programme for 1991, it is envisaged that efficiency reviews of other Departments will be initiated.
