The next item is the annual output statement process. Members will recall that the former Minister for Finance wrote to the committee to ask it to co-ordinate the overview of the annual output statement process. The library and research service published an article on performance budgeting in the July issue of its Social and Economic Indicators publication. To assist the committee in formulating a response for the Department, I propose that we ask the library and research service to further research this topic for consideration by the committee on its return in September. Is that agreed? Agreed. The topics to be researched could include the practice of performance budgeting in other countries and comments on budgetary planning made in the recent report of the OECD entitled, Ireland: Towards an Integrated Public Service. If there are other topics members would like to suggest, they can contact the secretariat before next week in order that the library and research service can commence work.
