Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2013
242. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will carry out the next value for money reviews of all semi-State bodies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/13]
View answerValue for Money and Policy Reviews are designed to secure improved value for money from public expenditure by providing systematic analysis of expenditure programmes and policies to provide a basis on which more informed decisions can be made on priorities within and between programmes. It is part of a range of measures in this regard including the Review of Capital Investment (2011), which sets out investment priorities for the years 2010-2016. The Review represents a reappraisal of the Government’s Public Capital Programme, designed to re-focus investment plans and ready the Irish economy for a return to growth.
The focus of the Value for Money and Policy Reviews is to provide a tool for systematic analysis of programmes and polices rather than agencies per se, and this tool is available, together with guidelines prepared by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its application, to all of the bodies under the aegis of my Department.
My Department has completed a number of Value for Money and Policy Reviews, most recently publishing two initial reviews on proposed mergers of bodies under the aegis of the Department (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with ComReg, and Digital Hub Development Agency with Dublin City Council), and participated in a review of merger of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, the Property Registration Authority and Valuation office, which has been led by the Department of Justice and Equality. My Department is currently carrying out a review on the method of financing public service broadcasting.
