Written Answers Nos. 115-123
115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his targets in terms of savings for each Government Department and any subordinate bodies thereunder for the coming year; the degree to which he expects these targets to be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43772/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has in mind particular or specific proposals to incentivise reform and the making of savings in the context of the achievement of various savings targets applicable for the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43773/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will be in a position to reward by way of other concessions particular Government Departments or subordinate bodies that have achieved savings or reforms resulting in savings on or in excess of target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43774/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the Departments, bodies or agencies that have achieved the least progress in achieving the targets set and agreed by his predecessors in the Memorandum of Understanding; the extent to which he may be in a position to offer incentives in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43776/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the elimination of waste has been achieved throughout the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43779/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out those Departments, bodies or agencies that have incurred cost overruns in the current year to date in 2012; the extent to which he expects to be able to encourage such Departments to operate within budget in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43780/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 117, inclusive, 119, 122 and 123 together.
As the Deputy will be aware a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) exercise was carried out by all Departments in 2011 to identify ways of reducing expenditure, in line with commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, while minimising the impact on service delivery.
The levels of consolidation up to 2015, along with Departmental ceilings for current expenditure up to 2014 were set out in the December 2011 publication of the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012 - 2014 , however, the precise composition of the 2013 budgetary consolidation is a matter for Government, the details of which will be announced at Budget time.
Now more than ever it is essential that the Government keeps a tight reign on all areas of spending and from my perspective I have introduced a range of measures to address the economic and budgetary challenges which we are facing, the latest of which was the publication on the 28th September of legislation to establish the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
The purpose of the MTEF is to provide for medium-term expenditure management through the provision of multi-annual Government expenditure ceilings and multi-annual Ministerial expenditure ceilings.
As regards the question of incentives for those sectors that under or over perform in meeting their budgetary and reform commitments, it is relevant to note that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework envisages a new “carryover” facility for Departments that manage their allocations within budget in any year, so that they can use these savings in the following year. Those Departments that are proactive in driving reform, innovation and structural planning will naturally be best-placed to avail of this facility into the future. The consequence on Departments who exceed their current expenditure ceiling in any given year will be the assimilation of an offsetting adjustment in their envelope for the following year, and they will be required to devise appropriate policy measures to live within the reduced allocation.
The end-September, 2012 issues figures indicate that there are some pressures, most notably in the Social Protection and Health group of Votes. The pressures relate to the cyclical nature of the largely demand led expenditure of these Departments as well as the reclassification of PRSI receipts by Revenue at the beginning of the year.
While good progress has been made on delivering savings and implementing change, it remains a matter for each Minister and their Departments to ensure that the Vote-level allocations are adhered to and at the same time ensure that they continue to provide essential front-line services and respond to increasing demands.
118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has by way of natural retirement achieved savings and or staff reductions required to meet targets set in the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by his predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43775/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that this Government has already surpassed the number target of 294,700 set out in the Memorandum of Understanding. The 28,000 staff reduction achieved since 2008 has been largely delivered through natural retirements and normal staff turnover. The Government is committed to reducing public service numbers to 282,500 by the end of 2014 as part of its Reform Agenda. The overriding objective is to have a more customer focused, leaner, more efficient and better integrated public service which delivers maximum value for money.
The table below sets out public service numbers from the peak in 2008 to Quarter 2 2012. This information is available on my Departments website http://databank.per.gov.ie/
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Q2 2012 |
|
320,000 |
310,300 |
305,500 |
296,900 |
292,000 |
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the working of extra hours has been used as a means to achieve savings through reform throughout the State and semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43777/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe extent to which the working of extra hours has been used in the State and semi-State sector, as well as any savings arising, is a matter for each relevant Minister and their Departments in the context of progressing their reform agendas.
As such, details in respect of any specific sector should be sought from the relevant Ministers and their Departments.
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the sale of State assets is proposed as a means of achieving budgetary targets in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43778/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNone of the potential receipts from the State assets disposal programme are to be used as a means of achieving the budgetary targets set for the coming year. Instead, as the House will be aware, it has been agreed with the Troika that all of the Government’s proceeds from the programme will be available, in one shape or another, to support job creating initiatives in the economy. Half of the proceeds will be available to fund employment enhancing projects of a commercial nature. The other half, while destined eventually to pay-down debt, will, in the first instance, be constituted as a fund to underpin additional lending into Ireland, for example by the EIB, in support of further investment in job-creating initiatives.
