Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which his Department receives as near as possible estimates from each Department in the preparation of annual budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52555/23]
View answerOver the last number of years, a range of reforms have been implemented in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. The intention of these reforms is to increase transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue around key elements of the Budget and on what is being achieved with public funds. These reforms have given greater emphasis to:
- demonstrating how public money is used;
- utilising evidence to inform policy-making; and
- developing the capacity of the civil service to undertake evidence informed policy work.
Central to these reforms is the ‘whole-of-year’ budgetary framework. This refers to an ongoing consideration of budgetary priorities throughout the year, rather than focusing budget discussions only around Budget Day. An important element of this is the publication at key points in the year of a range of documents including the Public Service Performance Report, the Summer Economic Statement, the Mid-Year Expenditure Report, and the Spending Review papers. These publications seek to support enhanced transparency and engagement in relation to budgetary issues.
Both as part of the whole-of-year Budget process and the finalisation of Estimates, my Department engages in a number of processes to broaden the approach to how public expenditure is appraised, implemented and reviewed. These processes, alongside ongoing engagement and negotiation with other Departments across Government, help to determine existing level of services requirements each year.
The Fiscal Monitor, published monthly, monitors expenditure by comparing it to plans set at the start of the year. Other budgetary processes include evidence-based analysis through the Spending Review, performance budgeting and internal policy papers.
Improving and supporting the evaluation capacity within Government Departments has also formed an important part of the reform programme. Supported by the establishment of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, this has led to the development of a number of additional processes and reports to support the budgetary framework.
The Programme for Government commits to continuing reform and improvement of the budgetary process, including an enhanced focus across Government on issues of performance and national well-being. In implementing further reforms, DPENDR will look to build on the budgetary reforms already in place and the significant work on public service reform already completed. Adopting this approach will support stronger dialogue on key elements of budgetary policy and will help to facilitate the continued development of budgetary decisions, consistent with the maintenance of stable public finances.
