Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2007
160 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the value for money review of the Information Society was completed; the value of the savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33480/07]
View answer161 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the value for money review of the Economic and Social Research Institute was completed; the value of the savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33481/07]
View answer162 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the value for money review of Ordinance Survey Ireland was completed; the value of the savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33482/07]
View answer163 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the value for money review of Civil Service child care initiative will be completed; the anticipated value of the savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33483/07]
View answer164 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the value for money review of the procurement management reform will be completed; the anticipated value of the savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33484/07]
View answer165 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the value for money review of departmental procurement will be completed; the anticipated value of the savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33485/07]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165 together.
The table sets out the completion schedule for the reviews in question.
|
Value for Money Review |
Completion |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute |
July 2006. |
|
Information Society Fund |
August 2006. |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
January 2007. |
|
Departmental Procurement |
Due to be completed by the end of 2008. |
|
Procurement Management Reform |
Expected to be completed in early 2008. |
|
Civil Service Childcare Initiative |
Expected to be completed in early 2008. |
The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Grant-in-Aid payment to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) contained five recommendations, all of which are in the process of being implemented. The recommendations are intended to improve the overall value for money for the grant-in-aid. Among other things, they are directed at relating funding to outputs; benchmarking the ESRI with comparable institutes in other EU member states, and periodically reviewing the policy relevance of the Institute's research. The level of the grant in aid has not changed significantly as a result of the review.
The Information Society Fund terminated at the end of 2005 in line with its intended lifespan. As a result, an annual allocation for the fund is no longer required. However, work continues in Departments and Offices on the Government's e-Agenda through the normal business planning and budgetary process.
The objectives of the Value for Money and Policy Review of the Grant-in-Aid to Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) were to assess the objectives of the grant; to identify improved output definitions and monitoring arrangements for future editions of the Service Level Agreement with OSI so as to drive increased operational efficiency across the organisation; and to assess whether OSI should remain under the aegis of the Department of Finance, be assigned to another Department or be merged with another appropriate body. While the focus of the Review was largely on policy aspects relating to the payment of the grant-in-aid, several of the recommendations, should contribute to the efficiency of the organisation and reduce not only the direct Exchequer grant, but also the payments for services made to the organisation by both the public and private sector. It is however not practicable at this early stage to calculate a specific value for the savings to the Exchequer that will be delivered on foot of the recommendations, which are currently in course of implementation.
With regard to the reviews of departmental procurement, procurement management reform and the civil service childcare initiative, it is not possible to anticipate the consequences of these reports until their findings are finalised and considered.
