Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the concept of reform continues to be applied across all Departments with a view to ensuring best practice, value for money and compliance with the principles of reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21596/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question. In view of the significant and pervasive impacts experienced as a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis, the Government's programme of reform and modernisation is particularly relevant as we seek to return our economy and society to full recovery.
With respect to best practice in reform, in accordance with my Department's Statement of Strategy, officials are currently preparing the next phase of public service reform (to succeed Our Public Service 2020). This will incorporate priorities articulated in the recently published Public Service Innovation Strategy, Making Innovation Real, in addition to aligning with ambitions set out in and its three year Action Plan (Civil Service Renewal 2024), as they relate to the wider Public Service. Additionally, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in my Department published Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT Strategy for Ireland’s Public Service, which sets out an approach to deliver digital government for all, while also driving the wider GovTech priorities. These strategies aim to drive best practice in regards to reform in the Public Service.
As regards value for money, under the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future, there is a commitment to continuing reform and improvement of the budgetary process. This will build on reforms introduced over the last number of years, including Performance Budgeting and Equality Budgeting, which seek to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. It is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister to manage expenditure within their respective allocations and careful monitoring of spending is required. Public organisations are required to treat public funds with care, and to ensure that the best possible value for money is obtained whenever public money is being spent or invested. This is in accordance with the Public Spending Code. Moreover, Action 5 of Our Public Service 2020 emphasises the need to ensure value-for-money principles are adhered to across the Public Service.
As part of this broader approach to ensuring value for money, the introduction of shared services and centralised procurement in earlier phases of reform continue to be embedded in the delivery of services to clients and customers. My Department continues to actively explore new areas and mechanisms to further embed reforms and efficiencies that will enhance the cost-effectiveness of public services; for example, through greater use of opportunities presented through digitisation, intelligent automation, innovation and the implementation of new ways of working and service design.
In order to ensure coherence and support for the reform efforts across the wider Public Service, my Department has established the Public Service Management Group and Public Service Leadership Board, which draw on senior management from right across the Public Service. These senior level groups oversee the delivery of our reform programme for the public service.
