Value for Money Reviews.

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Questions (91, 92)

Tom Hayes

Question:

159 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Finance if a value for money review is planned after 2008 for all Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25870/08]

View answer

179 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Finance the measures agreed for his Department under the Value for Money Review 2006-08; the projects which had the necessary changes made; when they are planned for completion; if a value for money review is planned after 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25859/08]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 179 together.

The Value for Money and Policy Review initiative was introduced by the Government in June 2006 replacing the Expenditure Review Initiative (ERI) which began in 1997 as part of the financial reform agenda set out in Delivering Better Government. It encompasses formal reviews for the period 2006-2008 already agreed to be carried out under the old Expenditure Review Initiative (ERI) as well as all other Policy Reviews conducted and commissioned by Departments which impact on Value for Money. The Government also agreed that completed reviews should be published and presented to the relevant Select Committee of the Oireachtas and that a list of all reviews be provided annually to the Select Committee and published in Departments’ Annual Reports.

The details of the projects (reviews) undertaken by my Department and by the Offices under its aegis for the period in question, together with completion dates, are set out as follows.

Department of Finance

Value for Money Review	Completion
Economic and Social Research Institute	July 2006.
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.
Information Society Fund	August 2006.
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. The Fund was focussed on initiatives in the areas of Electronic Government and Electronic Commerce.
Ordnance Survey Ireland	January 2007.
The Terms of Reference 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. One of the recommendations of this Review was that responsibility for Ordnance Survey Ireland should move to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. This change took effect from 1st January, 2008. The DCMNR will be better placed to comment on further progress achieved as the other recommendations of the Review are implemented.
Procurement Management within the Department	End of 2008.
Construction Procurement Reform Initiative	End of 2008.
Civil Service Childcare Initiative	End of 2008.
With regard to the above three reviews, work is ongoing and the reviews are at different stages in the process. Reports on progress are provided on a quarterly basis for the Central Steering Committee.
Office of Public Works
Flood Relief Programme	June 2008
Property Management Services	End of 2008
Two areas were selected for review under the 2006-2008 round of Value for Money and Policy Reviews. These areas were the Flood Relief Programme and Property Management Services. Reports on progress are provided on a quarterly basis for the Central Steering Committee. Expenditure on the Reviews is identified separately in the OPW Estimates under Subhead A8. The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Flood Relief Programme will be approved by the Chairman of the OPW over the coming days. It will be published on the OPW website, submitted to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service and placed in the Oireachtas Library.
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Revenue’s Data Capture Outsourcing Programme	October 2006
Information Technology External Resources Expenditure in 2006	March 2008
Both reviews have been submitted to the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service and have been published on the Revenue website. Progress on Value for Money and Policy Reviews is reported on in the Annual Report of the Revenue Commissioners. Expenditure on Value for Money and Policy Reviews is identified separately in our Estimates.
The Valuation Office, Comptroller & Auditor General, Commission for Public Service Appointments, State Laboratory, Public Appointments Service, Office of the Ombudsman and the President’s Establishment did not have any such reviews for the period in question.

Arrangements for the next round of reviews, which may cover the period 2009-2011, are being considered by the Value for Money and Policy Review Central Steering Committee.