Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2017
19. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the expenditure reviews current and capital his Department is undertaking on Government spending in the lead up to budget 2018; the areas that will be reviewed; if these reviews will be brought to the budgetary oversight committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10493/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on the Spending Review announced in my speech accompanying the publication of the Estimates last October is now underway. This review will systematically examine existing spending programmes to assess their effectiveness in meeting policy objectives and also to identify scope for re-allocating funding to meet expenditure priorities. The review differs from the 'comprehensive' reviews of expenditures carried out in previous years, moving to a 'rolling' system of selective reviews. A significant proportion of current Departmental expenditure - with the exception of pay rates - will be examined this year, with the remainder to be covered in 2018 and 2019. The topics selected for review in this year's round are currently being finalised. This approach to the review is informed by the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service paper 'Spending Reviews in Ireland: Lessons for the Future' and has been tailored to reflect the changed context and lessons from previous reviews.
A review is also being carried out of the Capital Plan 'Building on Recovery', to ensure that capital spending is strictly aligned with national economic and social priorities, consistent with the objectives of the Programme for Partnership Government. The review will be undertaken in two stages. Phase one will be aimed primarily at advising the Government in the context of the Estimates 2018 on how the additional funding committed for capital funding should be allocated, over the remainder of the period of the plan. This will involve examination of priority areas for investment, consistent with the objectives of the existing capital plan, as well as reflecting the specific investment priorities set out in the Programme for Government. Phase two of the review will assess and report on the framework required to underpin longer term analysis of Ireland's infrastructure planning needs. The Taoiseach, in his recent address to the Institute of European Affairs 'Ireland at the heart of a changing European Union' reaffirmed that the new National Planning Framework for spatial planning due to be finalised later this year will be complemented with a long-term (i.e. 10 year) capital plan.
Regarding engagement with the Committee on Budgetary Oversight on the outcomes of these reviews, this will build on those already in place between my Department and the Committee throughout the Budget cycle.
