Written Answers Nos. 1-20
8. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what programmes of public expenditure will be subject to evaluation in the coming year; and whether this process needs to be reformed [46962/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEvaluations of Government expenditure are a vital component of the public expenditure management framework, and are central to ensuring and demonstrating the appropriate use of public money.
As with other business, evaluations are planned and conducted by individual Government Departments in relation to policies falling under their remit.
One of the main initiatives by Department to support the expenditure management framework is the Spending Review process which tracks and facilitates some of the evaluation work being done across Departments. The Spending Review takes place across three-year cycles; two cycles have so far been completed, having previously run from 2017-2019 and 2020-2022.
The 2023 Spending Review takes place outside of the traditional multi-year cycle, in order to facilitate the piloting of a number of reforms aimed at enhancing impact; I will discuss this in more detail shortly. Since 2017, a total of 177 formal Spending Review papers have been published, on a variety of policy issues including labour market, health, climate, housing, childcare, to name a few, with more Departments routinely assessing key policies and programmes as part of the spending review processes.
While the Spending Review process is coordinated and facilitated by my Department, the identification and selection of topics, project scoping, analysis, and drafting are all conducted on a decentralised basis, with each Department responsible for areas and policy questions that fall within their own remit, and for managing the execution of the analysis and the follow-up policy reforms, where relevant.
Specifically in relation to the selection of topics for review in the coming calendar year, while the Spending Review cycle takes place over three years, Departments are not required to submit the full list of areas subject to review in advance of the cycle. Instead, analytical and policy units in their respective Departments identify and plan their expected research projects in tandem with general business planning. This process, which is overseen by line-management structures, takes place with consideration of unit capacity, strategic priorities, and business needs. Business planning generally takes place at the end of the calendar year; my Department therefore expects to have a preliminary list of areas subject to evaluation in 2024 in the coming months.
In relation to reforms of the Spending Review, following a consultation process with key stakeholders via the cross departmental Steering Group, Spending Review 2023 is trialling a number of reforms that aim to increase the impact of the spending review process. Following an appraisal of the Spending Review process during 2022 it was proposed that the 2023 iteration would see:
• The introduction of Technical Review Groups (formed thematically to replace or supplement the current Subgroup process);
• Changes to the Steering Group (to bring in a streamlined approach with a more strategic focus).
These changes were proposed along with some operational improvements such as revisions to the format of the scoping documents, the format of the templates, and the feedback process. Final tweaks were made to formalise the engagement and consultation process and to encourage a wider focus on impact for the evaluations. The impact of the changes introduced will be assessed at the end of this year, with a view to wider rollout as part of the 2024-2026 Spending Review cycle.
12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is considering a revision to budget 2024, given the context of the wide range of inflation projections for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46960/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra32. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he expects to revise funding for any public services in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46958/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 32 together.
Budget 2024 outlines an overall tax and expenditure budgetary package of €14 billion, with total gross voted expenditure increasing to €96.6 billion next year.
Inflation has fallen back from the average of 8.1 per cent seen in 2022, and the forecasts continue to predict further reductions, with the Budget day forecasts of the Department of Finance setting out HICP inflation of 2.9 per cent for next year. In this context, Budget 2024 continues a two pronged approach of responding to inflation and cost of living challenges in line with the approach adopted in Budget 2023. This sees a core expenditure growth rate of 6.1% to help support public services while also providing a range of temporary measures to help households and businesses with cost of living pressures, in particular the elevated energy costs.
Budget 2024 provided a core expenditure package of €5.3 billion which will support public services and our population throughout 2024. This package will:
• provide increased resources for core public services and infrastructure, investing in quality of life in Ireland to support a strong, fair and equal society into the future,
• while responding to external challenges including inflation.
The second part of this dual approach was the delivery of an expenditure package of €2.3 billion in temporary Cost of Living supports. These supports will be provided over the winter period, with a significant level provided before the end of 2023. Every household in the State will benefit from these supports to some extent with those on lower incomes benefiting proportionally more.
Finally, I would also add that Budget 2024 included €4.5 billion for non-core funding. This included a significant amount of €2.5 billion for our humanitarian response to arrivals fleeing the invasion of Ukraine and almost €1.3 billion for our continued response to the Covid 19 pandemic, primarily in the health sector which continues to deal with the legacy impacts, both direct and indirect, on its frontline services.
My colleagues and I remain conscious of the pressures faced by households due to inflation. This is reflected in the significant progressive budgetary package set out in Budget 2024 that balances the challenges faced by business and households with the need to protect the sustainability of the public finances.
14. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the budgeting process operated by his Department promotes innovation to a sufficient extent. [46963/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudgetary and expenditure reform is a key feature of public expenditure management and is progressed in a number of ways including through regular engagement across Departments on cross cutting issues and through the public service reform programme.
The promotion of innovation may be seen within the overall context of budgetary reform through a range of initiatives including:
• Performance Budgeting;• Equality Budgeting;• Green Budgeting• Well-being framework; and• The Spending Review Process. Together, these reforms aim to provide a more comprehensive insight into how public services are supporting society. They consider not only how and where the money is spent but also the impact of public expenditure across different cohorts of society. They work in tandem with broader initiatives, such as the establishment of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, to develop capacity and enhance the role of economics and value for money analysis in public policy making.
In terms of innovation initiatives as a standalone objective, the current framework for public service transformation is contained within Better Public Services, which builds on earlier reforms by my Department. The core of the Strategy is made up of three themes;
1. Digital innovation at scale,
2. Workforce and organisation of the future; and
3. Evidence informed policies and services designed for and with the public.
Making progress under these themes will support sectoral level reform programmes already underway in the Public Service and build on recent successes in the area of innovation across the Public Service.
Since its launch in May of this year, there has already been important cross-organisational initiatives established to drive digital innovation at scale, including Ireland’s ambitious ‘Life Events’ programme. This programme aims to deliver seamless end-to-end services, designed with and for our customers in a manner that ensures that key certificates and credentials are available digitally at all of our fingertips.
In November 2020, my Department published the Public Service Innovation Strategy, ‘Making Innovation Real’. My Department has since then assisted Public Service organisations in setting their own innovation goals and actions.
The Public Service Innovation Advisory Board was established in November 2021. The role of the board is to provide best practice, learnings and recommendations on driving innovation across the public service.
Finally, in 2023, the Public Service Innovation Fund allocated €750,000 to support 18 innovative projects in areas of Digital Transformation, Citizen Support Innovation, Green and Sustainable Initiatives. Since its establishment in 2019, the fund has supported around 100 projects.
15. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been under way; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [44814/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not been responsible for the setting up of any Tribunal of Inquiry, Commission of Inquiry or Commission of Investigation since its establishment.
Government Departments/Offices are required where relevant and appropriate to publish details on their website of costs and estimates relative to original estimate for Tribunals of Inquiry and Commissions of Investigation on a six-monthly basis. This requirement applies to those Tribunals of Inquiry and Commissions of Investigation which are currently underway and/or for which payments (including third-party payments) are still being made.
This requirement is set out in a circular of my Department dating from 14th December 2020. This circular itself emanated from a recommendation by the Public Accounts Committee that such information should be made available by Government Departments and Offices on a six monthly basis on its website. My Department accepted the PAC recommendation and accordingly issued the necessary circular outlining to Departments and Offices their obligations therein and how to comply with them.
The circular requires that the six-monthly provision of information by the Departments and Offices concerned should set out:
(i) The relevant Tribunal and/or Commission of Investigation being reported on;
(ii) Its date of establishment;
(iii) The original estimate of its costs;
(iv) Any revised estimate of its costs;
(v) The cumulative costs to date of each report; and
(vi) An explanation where appropriate for the deviation between the original estimate of costs and any revised estimate of costs
Questions about the length of time the relevant Tribunal, Commission of Inquiry or Commission of Investigation has been under way and its expected duration are a matter for the relevant Departments and Offices.
16. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proposals to amend the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 to include additional waterways, including the River Erne system in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46987/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHistorically, the arterial drainage of river catchments was intended to improve agricultural land. In terms of beneficial objectives served, the arterial drainage schemes progressed under the 1945 Act, are providing drainage outfall for 242,800 hectares of agricultural lands. Importantly, there has been significant development in these areas since the schemes were completed and the land drainage schemes are now also providing a level of protection from flooding to property, infrastructure and communities, including in excess of 21,000 properties, 2,400 kilometres of roads and 77 towns and villages.
Arterial Drainage Schemes under the 1945 Act, include the Boyne, Inny and Glyde-and-Dee Arterial Drainage Schemes in County Cavan. Separately, parts of the Erne Catchment are a Drainage District. The maintenance of Arterial drainage schemes undertaken by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, is the responsibility of the OPW. Separately, responsibility for the maintenance of Drainage districts rests with the Local Authorities.
The OPW has no plans to undertake further catchment-wide arterial drainage schemes.
17. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline where the balanced regional spend to the south east has been accomplished since the formation of the Thirty-third Dáil (details supplied). [46935/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.
Balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and this priority is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040. This strategic plan includes the National Planning Framework (NPF), which sets the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years, along with the revised National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP) which was published in October 2021. The revised NDP provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland over the next 10 years, and sees total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. The plan aims to ensure that 75% of growth takes place outside Dublin.
In 2023, over €12 billion has been made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects. This is supporting the provision of more schools, homes, hospitals and other pieces of vital infrastructure, across all regions including the South-East.
To give you just a few specific examples of important infrastructure projects delivered under the NDP in the South East:
• enhanced educational facilities including two projects in excess of €1m at St. Stephen's National School, and De Le Salle Post-Primary School, Waterford
• better transport links including the N25 New Ross Bypass and the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway
• improved health facilities including a second Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at University Hospital Waterford and a new Primary Care facility at Ferrybank.
The Government is committed to increasing public awareness of the capital investment in Project Ireland 2040 in all regions. A Project Ireland 2040 report on each regional assembly area, including the Southern region, is published each year. The 2022 annual reports were published in October 2023 and are available on gov.ie/2040. In addition, my Department publishes a major capital projects tracker and an interactive map, which sets out details of the key projects and programmes being implemented under the NDP, including those in the Southern region.
18. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress to date in 2023 on to the delivery of the CFRAM scheme for County Louth; the current timelines for the delivery of the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47004/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo deliver the proposed measures set out in the Flood Risk Management Plans for County Louth, Louth County Council, working with the Office of Public Works, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk / Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford / Greenore, Baltray and Ardee, all of which are in the first tranche of projects being progressed. The funding for these schemes has been allocated under the €1.3bn investment in flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030.
The development of flood relief schemes, overseen by project Steering Groups with representatives meeting monthly from the OPW and Louth County Council, involves five distinct, sequential and related stages. Aligned to the decision gateways of the Public Spending Code these are assessing the flood risk and identifying options; seeking planning consent, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Public consultation forms part of each stage and project websites, available on floodinfo.ie provides updates on each scheme’s progress.
The Dundalk/Blackrock South and Ardee projects are being progressed simultaneously and engineering and environmental consultants were appointed in 2020. The proposed scheme will protect some 1,880 properties when completed. The scheme option for Dundalk/Blackrock South is expected in Q2 2024 and Ardee is currently at options development.
Consultants for the Drogheda and Baltray schemes were appointed in September 2021. The proposed scheme will protect some 425 properties when completed. The scheme option is expected by the end of Q4 2024.
Consideration is being given as to how best to progress the Carlingford and Greenore schemes and the OPW will continue to liaise with Louth County Council.
While the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both Annagassan and Termonfeckin, economically viable schemes for these communities were not identified. The OPW is reviewing the flood risk in these communities.
20. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline plans by the OPW to provide for flood relief works in County Cork in light of the recent catastrophic flooding there; and if he will provide an update on flood relief works continuing and planned for County Clare. [46932/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Thursday last An Taoiseach and I visited some of the affected areas, to see at first hand the devastating impact of the aftermath of the flooding following Storm Babet.
The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030.
To date, 53 schemes have been completed which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion. Completed schemes include Bandon, Douglas, Clonakilty Fermoy and Ennis.
The Plans also identified an additional 150 flood relief schemes which in relation to those currently underway in County Cork are as follows. The schemes for Ballymakeera, Ballinhassig are at outline design Stage. Midleton, Bantry and Lower Lee are at Stage one which comprises Scheme Development and Preliminary Design and the scheme for Blackpool at Stage two, planning. Morrison’s Island is at detailed design stage and the Glashaboy scheme is at Stage four construction.
The OPW and Clare County Council are progressing five flood relief schemes in County Clare. These works include three large schemes namely Springfield which is at stage four construction, and the Shannon and Kilkee flood relief schemes, which are at Stage one preliminary design. Two smaller schemes in Kilrush and Bunratty are being progressed directly by Clare County Council.
The OPW operate the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme which provides funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing up to €0.75 million each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Since 2009, OPW have approved funding of €5.5m to Cork County Council and €3.7m to Clare County Council under the Minor Works scheme.
