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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (1288)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

1288. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the last occasion on which a Department-wide review of all funding within his Department took place; the frequency of such reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40637/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed in summer 2020.

The funding allocated to my Department, as set down in the annual Estimates, is used to meet costs associated with the provision of further and higher education, labour market initiatives including skills, and Irish research and development. The allocation is provided both directly and through my Department’s aegis bodies to fund: i) the salaries and pensions of public sector workers in the higher education, further education and research sectors, ii) the day to day running costs and capital investment needs of higher and further education institutions, iii) Irish research including through Science Foundation Ireland, iv) skills and labour market initiatives through SOLAS and the National Training Fund, v) the general administration costs of my Department, etc. Funding is also allocated for a range of programmes and initiatives.

As part of the yearly Estimates process, my Department’s funding is scrutinised by the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science before being approved by the Dáil. There is also monthly scrutiny of budgeted allocations against actual expenditure by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In addition, other organisations including the Comptroller and Auditor General Office and the Parliamentary Budget Office conduct ex-ante scrutiny of funding for the Oireachtas.

Since 2017, the Spending Review has become a key platform for evaluative analysis across the Civil Service. While Value for Money Reviews continue to be produced across a number of Departments, some of this work is now completed as part of the Spending Review which is led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. More details on the process can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/7dc2b1-spending-review/. Since its formation, the Department has not been involved in any Spending Reviews.

The published Estimates for my Department’s Vote provides information regarding expenditure and may be of assistance to the Deputy.

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