Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
568. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he expects to rely to a greater or lesser extent on reform as a means of achieving cost effective delivery of services and contracts; if he perceives any opportunities to expand, explore or redirect policies in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10590/21]
View answer590. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which reform continues to remain an integral part of policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20840/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 590 together.
I would like to thank Deputy for the question. The Deputy will be aware that a large programme of reform has been under way since the establishment of this Department in 2011.
Reform of public services will continue to play an integral role in this Department's function as we recover our economy and society from the colossal and pervasive impacts of the Covid19 pandemic. In fact, this Department is currently preparing the next phases of Public Service Reform (to succeed Our Public Service 2020) and a refreshed programme of Civil Service Renewal which will incorporate priorities that were articulated in the recently published Public Service Innovation Strategy, Making Innovation Real. I expect these strategies to be published during 2021. Furthermore, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in my Department is also preparing a new Public Service Digital Strategy, which will be published in the coming months.
These new plans and strategies will reinvigorate the reform agenda and make certain that we capitalise on the positive changes that we have witnessed since the onset of the pandemic. These plans and strategies will also incorporate a number of Programme for Government commitments that will enable the Public Service to be more responsive to the future needs of our citizens and to be resilient to any similar economic shocks of this nature.
As regards the drive for greater efficiencies and the realisation of more cost-effective public services, all public organisations are required to treat public funds with care, and to ensure that the best possible value for money is obtained whenever public money is being spent or invested. Indeed, as part of Our Public Service 2020 (Action 5) there has been a continued emphasis on ensuring value-for-money principles are adhered to across the Public Service.
As part of this broader approach to ensuring value for money, the introduction of shared services and centralised procurement in earlier phases of reform have been further integrated in public service operations and expanded into new areas.
The programme for public procurement reform commenced in 2013 as part of the overall public sector reform programme. A new public procurement model was established to deliver a more-centralised model of procurement for commonly sourced goods and services across the public service. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established in 2014 to drive the reform programme through the provision of policy interventions, advice and guidance, through the development of procurement solutions such as framework agreements, and through the analysis of public expenditure and tendering activity. Whilst the initial focus was to deliver value for money and savings for the Exchequer, an additional focus now, in line with international developments, EU priorities (Green Deal, digitalisation) and the new programme for Government, is on the strategic use of public procurement in promoting green, social and innovation policies.
These programmes will continue apace and this Department is actively exploring new areas and mechanisms to further embed reforms that will enhance the cost-effectiveness of public services; for example, through greater use of opportunities presented through intelligent automation, digitisation, innovation, the implementation of new ways of working and service design.
Finally, in respect of contracting arrangements and the reform agenda generally, Action 6 of Our Public Service 2020 specifically outlines that Public Service Bodies should maximise the use of contracting arrangements such as innovation clauses, gainsharing pacts and the proper use of penalty sanctions to get the best value for the public. Not only is this in keeping with reform objectives, but this is central to the ongoing drive of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure sound management of public expenditure generally through mechanisms such as the Public Spending Code . I expect that any future reform agenda will equally require the maximisation of the key priorities like innovation, digitisation and service design in future contracted arrangements.
The Deputy may wish to note that the final progress report for Our Public Service 2020 will be published in the coming days and this will be made available on my Department's website.
