Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
203. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31867/23]
View answerThe staff of my Department have worked collaboratively on a wide range of policies and initiatives to deliver on the strategic goals set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023. This includes the strategic management of well-targeted and sustainable public spending and the negotiation and allocation of €91.1 billion of funding for 2023.
In addition to the Strategy implementation, my Department has also drafted policy in response to the global health pandemic, supporting an equitable, digital and green recovery, blended working arrangements, opening our country to those fleeing a terrible war and the cost of living crisis in an appropriate, considered and timely manner to continue to safeguard the sustainability of public expenditure.
The Department’s new Statement of Strategy for 2023-25 will be published shortly and sets out an ambitious range of actions to be implemented between now and 2025 under three key strategic goals: Enhancing Governance; Building Capacity; and Delivering Effectively.
Some of the main policy achievements over this period include;
• The publication of the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – the largest and greenest NDP in the history of the State with a particular focus on responding to the key issues of public housing provision and climate.
• The update of the Public Spending Code to strengthen our approach to capital expenditure management. This included the introduction of the External Assurance Process (EAP) and Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG).
• The commencement of the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019.
• Leading on digital transformation including the publication of the National Artificial Intelligence strategy to drive digital adoption and provide transformative, disruptive technologies and the publication of Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT strategy for Ireland’s Public Service which sets out an approach to deliver digital government for all.
• Worked collaboratively with other Departments in designing the first Civil Service Blended Working Framework which was launched to support Civil Service organisations to develop their own blended working policies.
• In response to rising inflation and increases in the cost of living, an extension to the current Public Service Agreement, Building Momentum was agreed.
• Development of the Partnership Agreement, the overarching strategic document that lays out Ireland’s investment strategy and priorities to be addressed via the Cohesion Policy programmes.
• Providing appropriate funding for a whole of Government response to meeting our climate ambitions and Housing for All targets.
• Publication of Better Public Services, a new Strategy to 2030 for the Public Service aimed at delivering for the public and building trust.
• Through a continuum of measures, this Department proactively continues to respond with targeted measures to alleviate pressure on households and exposed sectors of the economy.
• The management of a responsive fiscal policy which invests in better public services and infrastructure for our growing and changing population while allowing us to respond to external challenges faced by households, businesses and individuals across the country. This planned and careful management of our public expenditure has helped us to return Government finances to a surplus.
The Deputy may also wish to note that full details in relation to the achievements of the Department in are set out in the Department’s Annual Reports published each year on Gov.ie. Further details in relation to policy achievements in 2022 will be set out in my Department's Annual Report 2022, which will be published shortly.
The 2020 and 2021 Annual Reports can be found at the following links;
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/228322/cf7a63a8-6bda-43d2-9020-19ac6db63a37.pdf#page=null
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/134835/161df9dc-c422-47c4-8f65-b0b9fffe2f33.pdf#page=null
A broad range of information and updates about the Department's key policy areas are published on its section of the gov.ie website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-public-expenditure-and-reform/
