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Wednesday, 22 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 26 - 33

Public Service Reform Plan Update

Questions (26)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

26. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount of outsourcing that has been achieved in his Department since March 2012; the names of the outsourcing companies that have been involved; the total savings achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2697/14]

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Written answers

The Public Service Reform Plan sets out a commitment to evaluate alternative models for the delivery of services in a more cost effective and flexible approach, with a focus on customer service improvement. In July 2012, the Government agreed a range of actions aimed at achieving a focused and integrated approach to external service delivery of non-core processes with the objective of reducing costs and focusing staff resources on priority areas.

The Deputy will be aware that shared services is a key area of reform being led by my Department. In this regard, each appraisal for shared services carried out by my Department evaluated the existing in-house service, the external delivery option and whether the service can be retained in-house but with business process improvements. Each decision took into account a number of factors, including overall cost, quality of service, effectiveness and the public interest. A Financial Appraisal was prepared in respect of the Human Resources to become a shared service which was implemented providing services to 13 organisations and a further 40 in 2014. Forecasted savings of €12.5m per annum are estimated with a reduction of 149 staff. A Business case for a Pensions Shared Services Centre is well advanced and expected to save €5.6m per annum with a reduction of 56 staff. Non-financial benefits including improved efficiency, consistency and service delivery are also expected.

Within the Vote Group for which I am responsible, the Office of Public Works is involved in outsourcing much of its work.  A significant proportion of the workforce is dedicated to managing the outsourced service delivery to ensure the provision of value for money, quality services to client Departments and Agencies and to ensure all of its actions are compliant with legislation, regulations and good governance.  The Office of Public Works also provides a shared service in the area of property management and property maintenance to central Government Departments and Agencies.  It is currently responsible for the management over 2,000 properties. The OPW routinely commissions external service providers to deliver these services. 

In addition, the OPW invites proposals on an annual basis from event organisers for high profile Heritage sites to maximise the use of these sites and to enhance the visitor experience.  This has been extended to include other commercial activities on OPW sites in 2014.  A number of proposals are being considered currently. The OPW was one of a number of bodies requested to prepare an External Service Delivery Plan in 2013.  That Plan has identified a number of areas where further opportunities for External Service Delivery can be explored and these are being considered for implementation in 2014.  This Plan is due to be considered by Government shortly.

The Public Appointments Service outsourced Call Centres for the Garda Trainee recruitment campaign and the Internal Promotion campaigns at HEO and AP level being run for other Departments/Offices in the civil service.  Following two separate procurement exercises the contract for these projects were awarded to the company "Call Management".  This part of the process was outsourced in order to allow staff to deliver on a large number of campaigns at the same time and deal with very large potential candidate pools. It was considered more efficient to engage external call-centre support rather than recruiting temporary staff to deal with short intensive peaks in activity. In addition, my Department will be preparing its own benefits-driven external service delivery plan during 2014.

Freedom of Information Remit

Questions (27)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

27. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Irish Water will be opened to freedom of information; if he is considering opening Coillte and other semi-State companies to freedom of information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2695/14]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, I indicated last November in the context of the Committee Stage debate on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill that it was my intention that Irish Water should be made subject to FOI at an early stage following the enactment of the new legislation.  On the basis of recent developments and following the commencement of the Irish Water Services (No. 2) Act, 2013 and taking into account the likely timetable for the enactment of the FOI Bill, I have concluded that arrangements should be made for Irish Water to come under FOI from its legal establishment date in 2013 as expeditiously as possible.   

Rather than awaiting the enactment of the new FOI Bill, I have decided to utilize the powers under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 in respect of Irish Water.  In such circumstances the Act provides that a positive resolution of both Houses is required before the Order comes into force and FOI actually applies to the public body concerned.  I would propose - subject to the approval of the Oireachtas in due course - to allow Irish Water 30 days preparation time following the making of the Order for the company to make the administrative arrangements required to implement FOI. 

In relation to the second aspect of the Deputy's question relating to whether FOI should be applied to Coillte and other semi-state companies, a key feature of the new FOI legislation is that FOI will now apply to all non-commercial state bodies.  As far as commercial state bodies - which would include Coillte - are concerned, as I have highlighted on a number of occasions in the course of the passage to date of the FOI Bill through the Oireachtas, I believe that there are other important considerations that should inform and guide the approach taken in finalising the FOI legislation. 

The Government's assessment is that, in general, and consistent with the approach adopted since FOI first came into effect in 1998 commercial state bodies should not be subject to FOI requirements.  The rationale for this approach is the risk of the uneven competitive market environment that would be created in circumstances that commercial state bodies operating in a competitive market were subject to FOI but their privately-owned market competitors were not.  This would be expected to have an adverse impact on the commercial position of the state body in question, which would not be in the public interest or consistent with the need to safeguard the State's economic and financial interests.  Moreover, as I have stressed very significant information is available on the activities of these commercial companies reflecting their obligations under company law, the information they provide to Government Departments and relevant sectoral regulators which is available for release under FOI or otherwise.

Question No. 28 answered with Question No. 18.

Office of the Ombudsman Remit

Questions (29)

Seán Fleming

Question:

29. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to expand the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman in line with comments recently made by the newly appointed Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2673/14]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government contained a commitment to extend the Ombudsman Act, to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered. The Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 extended the remit of the Ombudsman bringing some 180 public bodies within remit.  As such, it was the most significant extension of the Ombudsman's remit in 30 years.  The Ombudsman is now empowered to investigate complaints about the administrative functions of bodies such as the Education and Training Boards, the higher education institutions and a range of other bodies whose administrative actions had not previously been subject to investigation.  This should in turn ensure a better quality service to customer or clients of public bodies by improving the system of public administration.

I fully intend to further extend the remit of the Ombudsman by bringing in bodies significantly funded from the Exchequer in line with the views expressed by the Ombudsman.  Governing criteria will be agreed by my officials with relevant line Departments for determining which bodies funded by the Exchequer would be appropriate for bringing under the Ombudsman's remit as a priority.  I have asked my officials to continue to progress this work, in consultation with the Office of the Ombudsman, to ensure the further extension of the Ombudsman's remit to significantly funded non-statutory bodies consistent with the objective in this area contained in the Programme for Government.

Flood Prevention Measures

Questions (30)

Denis Naughten

Question:

30. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to implement the recommendations in the joint committee on the environment report on Shannon flooding published in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/14]

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Written answers

As outlined to the Deputy in the reply to Parliamentary Questions 1595 and 1598 of 15 January, 2014, the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht report on Shannon flooding dealt with and included recommendations on a number of issues across a range of Government Departments and State Bodies. The Office of Public Works (OPW) responded to the Committee by way of a written reply in September 2012, in relation to the specific matters within the OPW's area of responsibility. The main area addressed in the reply related to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme and how the OPW is addressing flood risk on the River Shannon in the context of the CFRAM Programme.

The Deputy will be aware that Jacobs Engineering are the consultants on the Shannon CFRAM study. The Committee Report was forwarded to Jacobs for consideration in the context of the Shannon CFRAM Study. In this regard, he will also recall the Shannon Levels Operations Report, produced by Jacobs in 2012 and on which the Committee received a briefing in late 2012. The OPW, with the cooperation of both the ESB and Waterways Ireland, has facilitated the carrying out of a water level monitoring exercise, as part of the CFRAM process, which will allow for analysis of water flows and levels at key points around the Lough Ree and Callows areas. The hydrometric data collated from the water flow/level exercise has been provided to the CFRAM consultants for its consideration within the CFRAM project. Any conclusions to be drawn from the exercise will form part of the CFRAM study. This data will be published shortly on the CFRAM website, www.shannoncframstudy.ie.

Question No. 31 answered with Question No. 16.

Departmental Websites

Questions (32)

Seán Kyne

Question:

32. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans to redesign all Government Department and State agency websites using the one template; if such a redesign falls under the remit of the recently established Office of Government Chief Information Officer; and if consideration is being given to examining the template used by the www.gov.uk website. [2668/14]

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Written answers

The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has a number of roles including researching and investigating international best practices in eGovernment. As such it is aware of the UK approach to Government websites as well as approaches adopted by other countries. This is something that is being considered in the context of the Public Service ICT Strategy currently being developed in conjunction with the Public Service CIO Council.  It is worth noting that our own gov.ie portal already gives users access in one location to more than 400 informational and transactional services. A redesign of the gov.ie website is currently underway.

Consultancy Contracts

Questions (33)

Seán Fleming

Question:

33. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the engagement by semi-State agencies of external consultants; the way such costs can be controlled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2672/14]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, commercial state companies are established to operate explicitly in a market environment, at arm's length from Ministers, and they enjoy considerable autonomy in operational terms as they seek to generate profits in the interests of the shareholder. Operational matters, including those to which the Deputy's question refers, are the responsibility of the management and boards of these companies. In fulfilling this role, I would expect management and boards to pay very close attention to all of their company s operating costs, including, as the case may be, those arising from the engagement of external consultants.

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