The number of staff based in the central expenditure evaluation unit per annum since 2011

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