Written Answers Nos. 181 - 187
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he and his Department have examined the full implications of a UK exit from the European Union, if any particular corrective measures are likely to be required in its aftermath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20036/16]
View answerMy Department has been taking part in the work of the Interdepartmental Group on EU/UK relations which was convened by the Department of the Taoiseach in advance of the UK Referendum on EU membership, as well as the EU Senior Officials' Group that is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. It contributed to the risk assessment conducted by the Department of the Taoiseach in advance of the Referendum, and actions relating to the Department are included in the Government's Contingency Framework, a summary of which was published last month.
In addition, the implications of a vote to leave were discussed by the Department's Management Board prior to the Referendum and, in light of outcome of the Referendum, it will continue to be reviewed by senior management, and appropriate arrangements will be put in place to deal with issues arising.
The Summer Economic Statement published last month included an assessment of the upcoming Referendum and in particular the potential impact on macroeconomic forecasts of a decision to leave. As noted in the SES, the Department of Finance will prepare a full macro-economic projection in advance of Budget 2017. This will include updated estimates of economic growth taking account of developments up to that time.
A key issue for my Department is Ireland's Cooperation Programmes with the UK that are co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund, including the North South PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. Immediately following the Referendum result, and in line with my Department's contingency arrangements, my officials contacted the Commission as well as representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish and Welsh Governments to underscore our commitment to the programmes and to discuss how they would continue to benefit from EU funding.
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which all branches of the public service are likely to benefit from the sacrifices made in terms of pay reduction and longer working hours throughout the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20037/16]
View answer183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the targets set by his Department continue to be met throughout the public sector in anticipation of restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20038/16]
View answer184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the objectives set out in the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement 2010 to 2014 and the Public Service Stability (Haddington Road) Agreement 2013 to 2016 continue to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20039/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 184, inclusive, together.
I am satisfied that the Croke Park Agreement and Haddington Road Agreement combined delivered on their objectives by facilitating significant cost savings in the public service paybill while supporting an extensive public service reform agenda in an industrial relations climate of industrial peace. This was a view shared by the Implementation Body for the Croke Park Agreement in their final report.
The savings made contributed to Ireland reaching the GDP Deficit target of 3% by end 2015 and exiting the Economic Adjustment Programme. Given the scale of the fiscal crisis facing the country and the fiscal consolidation measures required to restore our finances, the contribution made by public servants has been very significant and it is a contribution that I wish to acknowledge.
In addition to delivering on monetary targets, a number of reforms and changes to work practices, such as additional working hours, have been implemented since 1 July 2013. Approximately 15 million additional hours have been provided by staff right across the Public Service. These reforms have contributed to the maintenance and enhancement of existing public services during a period of significant constraints on public expenditure and at a time when public services were under increasing demand.
Due to the difficult measures adopted and the resulting improvement in the economy, the Government has, through the negotiation and agreement of a financially prudent public service agreement on pay and related issues, provided for a gradual unwinding of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts as they apply to public servants. The terms of this agreement, the Lansdowne Road Agreement, are being implemented under the FEMPI Act 2015 at a full year cost of €844m to 2018. All public servants covered by the Agreement will benefit, for example a public servant earning €30,000 will receive an extra €2,170 under the agreement. Importantly the Agreement secures and extends the productivity improvements under the Haddington Road Agreement.
The continued improvement in our fiscal position has also allowed for targeted recruitment in 2015 and 2016 to fill critical gaps in public service numbers, due to the recruitment moratorium, and meet additional staffing requirements in frontline services related to demographic change. In total since Q4 2013, the Government has approved to the end of 2016 the recruitment of an additional 18,100 public servants to meet demands for enhanced public service delivery at a cost of an extra €1.1bn to our paybill over three years. These include 4,300 Teachers; 1,500 Special Needs Assistants 1,700 Nurses and over 1,000 consultants/doctors/dentists.
185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which changes in procurement have benefitted the economy during the downturn; if any further reform appropriate to the recovery is warranted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20040/16]
View answerProcurement reform is a key element of the Government's overall reform programme and is aimed at delivering increased value for money, more accurate and timely data and improvement in the capacity and capability of procurement across the public service. The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service facilitated amongst other things suppliers charging different public service bodies different prices for the same goods and services. This was not sustainable, as the State could afford to continue to purchase works, goods and services in a manner that undermines the efficient delivery of services.
The central procurement frameworks and contracts established by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) have been designed to optimise benefits including savings to the State through the strategic aggregation of its buying power. Aggregation arrangements such as multi-supplier frameworks can, where appropriate, address local supplier issues.
The reform of public procurement in Ireland is being carried out in a manner that recognises the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in this country's economic recovery. The aim is to drive fair, transparent and open competition in the marketplace but also to work with business to ensure that government procurement policies are business friendly
In the three years to the end of 2015, the OGP and its partner sector sourcing organisations in Health, Education, Local Government and Defence had enabled procurement savings of an estimated €165 million.
Given the budgetary pressures facing the public service, public procurement savings can support the dual objectives of meeting our fiscal targets and of maintaining/improving services for the public. The strengthening of procurement professionalisation will in turn provide public bodies who use the contracts and frameworks with increased certainty and reduced risk by providing them with compliant sourcing solutions.
Finally, in relation to further reform of public procurement, the Government has committed in the Programme for Partnership Government to refining the new procurement structures in place and to make adjustments according to best international practice and in conjunction with Irish business.
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects recruitment throughout the public sector to take place in the course of the current year with particular reference to areas currently experiencing pressure as a result of the embargo on public sector recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20042/16]
View answerThe Deputy will recall that at the time of the Expenditure Statement in October 2014 an end to the Moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was announced, to be replaced with new delegated management arrangements to be phased in during 2015 and 2016. These arrangements, which now apply to most Government departments give public service managers the means to respond to service needs as they arise, including considerable flexibility to make staffing and service level delivery decisions at the front line consistent with the resources allocated to pay budgets.
The introduction of the delegated staffing arrangements from 2015, means it is now a matter for line Departments to manage their staffing resources, including recruitment, subject to them remaining within their pay bill ceiling. Each Department can, in turn, determine the suitability of introducing similar arrangements for agencies and offices under its remit.
These new arrangements represent a significant shift away from centralised control and allow for greater flexibility in the management of public service staffing resources. The new approach has also facilitated the introduction of a targeted programme of recruitment into the civil service - my area of direct responsibility in terms of public service employment overall - to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills.
As far as the civil service is concerned significant recruitment has already occurred. At this stage, in advance of the outcome of various competitions, it is not possible to be definitive about actual numbers that will be recruited to the civil service in the course of 2016 or other years. These will be determined by a number of factors including workforce planning, retirement rates and Departments deciding on their optimal grade mix over the period ahead, with reference to their pay budgets.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Civil Service while my other Ministerial colleagues have responsibility for other parts of the Public Service.
