QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of projects that have undergone a cost benefit analysis per annum since 2011 by year and Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Public Spending Code is the set of rules and procedures that apply to ensure that value for money standards are upheld across the Irish Public Service. The Public Spending Code encompasses guidance on a variety of issues related to the management of expenditure at each stage of the expenditure lifecycle. This includes central guidance on the application of appraisal and evaluation methodologies including cost benefit analysis.  The Public Spending Code is supplemented in some instances by sectoral specific appraisal guidance. These are developed by the relevant Department and set out additional requirements and parameters specific to the sector, while remaining in the line with the Public Spending Code.

The Public Spending Code requires that Sponsoring Agencies, i.e. those that are responsible for delivering projects, prepare an economic appraisal such as a cost benefit analysis or a cost effectiveness analysis for current and/or capital expenditure projects or programmes which cost over €20 million before the relevant Sanctioning Authority, i.e. usually the body providing the funding, makes a decision on whether to approve the project. The Public Spending Code also requires that the economic appraisal is submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for technical review. The purpose of the technical review is to support consistency in the application of the Public Spending Code guidance.

The Public Spending Code requirements do not prohibit Sponsoring Agencies from conducting cost benefit analysis on projects costing less than €20 million. The Public Spending Code guidance stresses the need for proportionality in appraisal and for Sponsoring Agencies to choose the appraisal methodology that is most appropriate for assessing the value for money of a project or programme.

Responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Public Spending Code including on appraisal is a matter for each Sponsoring Agency and Sanctioning Authority.  The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not see all cost benefit analyses conducted by each Sponsoring Agency and does not collect statistics on numbers of appraisals.  

The Project Ireland 2040 Capital Tracker will, going forward, capture information on projects at each stage of the project life cycle. The tracker is published at https://www.per.gov.ie/en/national-development-plan-2018-2027/. This will provide additional information on the appraisal of capital projects in the National Development Plan.

The newly established Investment Projects and Programmes Office (IPPO) in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform will play an important role in strengthening the appraisal and evaluation of investment projects and programmes. A review of the Public Spending Code is underway. The IPPO is updating the capital appraisal guidelines in the Public Spending Code. As each element of that review is completed, it will be published

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff based in the central expenditure evaluation unit per annum since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Central Economic and Evaluation Unit (CEEU) became part of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform during 2011.  At the end of 2011, there was one Principal Officer, five Assistant Principals, a Higher Executive Officer, an Executive Officer, a Services Officer and a Clerical Officer in the CEEU. 

The Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) was set up in 2012 and largely subsumed the work of the CEEU.  It is an integrated, cross-Government network that aims to support better policy formulation and implementation in the civil service through economic analysis and evaluation.

As a broad network, IGEES numbers across Government Departments include both people directed recruited into IGEES and existing staff who participate in evidence based policy research.  We estimate that the number of IGEES network members has increased from over 30 in 2012; to over 50 in 2013; and (approximately in each year) 70 in 2014; 80 in 2015; 90 in 2016; 120 in 2017 and 160 in 2018.

The majority of those currently active in IGEES roles are economists. However IGEES members also come from a wide variety of backgrounds including statistics, data analysis, social science, evaluation, and policy analysis

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on rent supplement in each of the years 2011 to 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients on rent supplement in each of the years 2011 to 2018; the estimated cost in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Rent supplement continues its vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 24,300 recipients for which the Government has provided  €132.4 million for 2019.

End of year statistics for rent supplement recipients and expenditure for the years 2011 to 2019 and the projected cost for 2019, are provided in the attached tabular statement. The 2019 figure, similar to 2018’s , is predicated on current trends associated with Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP) and the underpinning macroeconomic conditions prevailing throughout next year.

The strategic goal of returning rent supplement to its original purpose; that of a short-term income support, has been primarily facilitated by the introduction of the HAP. The “Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (July 2016), reiterated in the “Housing First National Implementation Plan 2018-2021” (September 2018), is to provide 87,000 flexible housing supports through the HAP and Rental Accommodation Scheme between 2016 and 2021. As part of this commitment will be the transfer of those out of rent supplement with long term housing needs to HAP with a targeted completion date of these transfers by the end of 2020.  For 2019, HAP’s transfer activity is expected to yield a closing rent supplement base of approximately 15,000 rent supplement customers at year end.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average length of time taken to process a cost benefit analysis by Department in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Public Spending Code is the set of rules and procedures that apply to ensure that value for money standards are upheld across the Irish Public Service. The Public Spending Code encompasses guidance on a variety of issues related to the management of expenditure at each stage of the expenditure lifecycle. This includes central guidance on the application of appraisal and evaluation methodologies including cost benefit analysis.  The Public Spending Code is supplemented in some instances by sectoral specific appraisal guidance. These are developed by the relevant Department and set out additional requirements and parameters specific to the sector, while remaining in the line with the Public Spending Code.

The Public Spending Code requires that Sponsoring Agencies, i.e. those that are responsible for delivering projects, prepare an economic appraisal such as a cost benefit analysis or a cost effectiveness analysis for current and/or capital expenditure projects or programmes which cost over €20 million before the relevant Sanctioning Authority, i.e. usually the body providing the funding, makes a decision on whether to approve the project. The Public Spending Code also requires that the economic appraisal is submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for technical review. The purpose of the technical review is to support consistency in the application of the Public Spending Code guidance.

The Public Spending Code requirements do not prohibit Sponsoring Agencies from conducting cost benefit analysis on projects costing less than €20 million. The Public Spending Code guidance stresses the need for proportionately in appraisal and for Sponsoring Agencies to choose the appraisal methodology that is most appropriate for assessing the value for money of a project or programme.

Responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Public Spending Code including on appraisal is a matter for each Sponsoring Agency and Sanctioning Authority.  The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not see all cost benefit analyses conducted by each Sponsoring Agency and does not collect statistics on numbers of appraisals or length of time to conduct and process appraisals.  Each Government Department is required to prepare an annual Quality Assurance Report on how it is meeting its Public Spending Code obligations. Part of this obligation includes regular in-depth checks of a sample of projects and programmes to monitor the quality of the appraisal and assess the appraisal process.

The Project Ireland 2040 Capital Tracker will, going forward, capture information on projects at each stage of the project life cycle. The tracker is published at https://www.per.gov.ie/en/national-development-plan-2018-2027/. This will provide additional information on the appraisal of capital projects in the National Development Plan.

The newly established Investment Projects and Programmes Office (IPPO) in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform will play an important role in strengthening the appraisal and evaluation of investment projects and programmes. A review of the Public Spending Code is underway. The IPPO is updating the capital appraisal guidelines in the Public Spending Code. As each element of that review is completed, it will be published.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health if he has prepared plans to counteract delays to insulin delivery from Denmark should the UK landbridge be closed in the event that a no-deal Brexit occurs at the March 2019 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

As part of the whole of Government response to Brexit, my Department is working on a comprehensive and coordinated set of actions to ensure, as far as is possible, continuity of supply of medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Significant work has already been undertaken by the Department, the HSE, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), together with industry, to ensure that risks to the continuity of supply are mitigated to the greatest possible extent.

Both the HPRA and HSE have requested that medicines manufacturers and suppliers highlight any issues regarding the availability of specific products associated with Brexit - to date, no major issues have been identified through this process. 

The HSE and HPRA are contacting the suppliers of certain products, such as medicines subject to cold storage, to ensure that contingency plans are in place for Brexit. The agencies are also working with the Revenue Commissioners to ensure that any delays at customs are minimised. In any event, the existing distribution system for medicines already holds sufficient stocks to help absorb any short-term supply delays. 

The Government’s Contingency Action Plan for a no-deal Brexit outlines the wider approach to landbridge issues that may arise as a result of a no-deal Brexit.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if there is provision to reactivate a driver licence; if so, if it can be done via retaking a driver test; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) delivers the driving licence service through the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS). As such, I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.