Richard Bruton
Ceist:10 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the way in which he would like to see the budgetary cycle change to provide a more meaningful process for debating options and for delivering results. [2540/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 February 2005
Ceisteanna (10)
Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)
I am currently examining a number of options for change which could be implemented in the short and medium term. Any changes to current practices would need to meet best practice, improve both the quality of debate and the data available to the House on the budget, meet our obligations to the EU and be capable of being delivered within the existing budget timetable. I will discuss shortly the possibilities for change with my colleagues in Government and, at that stage, I will bring forward proposals which the House will have an opportunity to discuss.
The Minister did not say what he has in mind. Would he consider, for example, that the spending Estimates and the broad based tax proposals should be introduced much earlier in the cycle, perhaps in October, and that they identify new programmes, the multi-annual implication of new programmes and their capacity to staff projects like hospitals they are committing to build, and sometimes are not staffed? Would he consider obtaining outcome and performance indicators from each Department to accompany the Estimates so that there would be realistic benchmarks against which to judge their spending programmes? Has he in mind some of the issues that have been developed overseas, such as efficiency agreements between his Department and some of the line spending Departments, changes in project appraisal methods, which have fallen into some disrepute, and ministerial compliance statements, where they would sign off on the robustness of the basis on which Estimates, particularly new programmes, are being put together? Are these the elements the Minister has in mind because it would be a useful direction in which to go?
Given the documents which I have read, these issues are certainly on the Deputy's mind. As I said, I am prepared to consider how we might be able to improve the budgetary process. I have not reached a decision on how this might be done. I am consulting with my officials and preparing some ideas for consideration by Government. The reason I am not being very specific at the moment is because I would need collective cover for anything I may do, otherwise I might be accused of acting in bad faith. We are aware that the budgetary process should be examined to see can we improve the quality of the debate and the participation of the House in the budgetary process. Unfortunately, it is too early for me to be more specific in terms of the policy documents the Deputy has produced.
What has happened to the commitment the previous Minister obtained from the Departments of Agriculture and Food and Transport that they would change the way they presented their Estimates and adopt performance indicators to make a more meaningful presentation? As far as I know, that pilot project has not seen the light of day. Has it been derailed?
The pilot project is still ongoing and an appraisal of it should be forthcoming. I will get the details for the Deputy. I read a fair amount of the supplementary information provided and it appeared the pilot project was underway. Given the multi-annual funding and the envelope system which has been applied to capital projects, and which in some respects was applied in last year's budget to current disability issues, there are opportunities to do more in this regard. I take the point the Deputy made regarding the whole question of capital and ensuring it flows on from the capital project completion date in the interests of good service delivery. Guidelines have been outlined to Departments to ensure the revenue implications are examined and factored in before embarking on major capital projects. This makes for a good system of accountability and efficiency. I am aware of the number of ideas the Deputy put forward, which I will examine to see if we can incorporate some measures that might subsequently form the basis of discussion in this House.
The Deputy said a project under the chairmanship of the Department of Finance and involving the Departments of the Taoiseach, Transport, Agriculture and Food and Social and Family Affairs is developing a pilot project to link departmental business planning, resource allocation and output reporting. The report on that project and the pilot models are being finalised in light of the views last September of the financial management sub-group of secretaries general, and will be submitted to me shortly.