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2. Better Business Processes Actions under this heading would include efficiency measures including procurement, revisions to business process, reconfigurations and other changes to service delivery options, including sharing of service, revisions to regulatory/inspection actions, and so on. |
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Terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014 |
Action |
Timeframe |
Estimated Savings/Benefits Arising 2010 - 2014 |
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4.1 |
Reduce Non-Pay Operating Budgets of Exchequer-Funded Agencies by 10% as against the 2010 Budget
Implement the requirement in the National Recovery Plan that the operating costs of each Exchequer-funded agency are to be reduced by 10% from 2011.
Ongoing engagement with non-Exchequer-funded agencies (i.e. Regulators: Commission for Energy Regulation, ComReg and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland) to also reduce costs through the measures set out below.
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Implemented in Budget 2011 |
Exchequer savings of €1.2m per annum. The actions outlined below in this section will contribute to these savings as well as contributing additional savings. Estimates of additional savings should be available by end Qtr 1 2011.
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4.1 |
Review Procurement
The Department’s agencies will review procurements with a view to achieving all possible rationalisations of suppliers, cost reductions and economies of scale. Two specific proposals, which will be examined in this area are (1) the creation of an insurance group for DCENR agencies to reduce the overall cost of insurance (currently being examined by an inter agency working group) and (2) the putting in place of an information technology framework agreement.
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As contracts are renegotiated from Qtr 1 2011 |
The review should allow for savings in procurement expenditure due to cost reductions and reduced administration arising from rationalisation of suppliers. |
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4.1 |
Review Travel Policies
Ø Further improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of travel policies/guidelines/advice for both domestic and foreign travel
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Qtr 2 2011 |
The review should allow for savings in travel and subsistence expenditure. |
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4.1 |
Energy Cost Reduction
Energy audit of all agency buildings to be conducted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to be followed up by appropriate implementation of recommendations to minimise energy costs.
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Ongoing |
The energy audits and follow-up of the recommendations should allow for savings in energy costs. |
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4.1 |
Review Regional Structures
The Department’s agencies will as appropriate review regional structures to ensure the least cost provision of Departmental and agency accommodation and the most efficient and effective redeployment of staff.
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Ongoing |
The review should result in reduced accommodation and ancillary costs while enhancing the level of service delivery. |
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4.14 |
Better Management of Risk
Continued development and prioritisation of proactive risk management.
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Ongoing |
Greater capacity to identify, reduce and/or mitigate risk.
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4.15 |
Greater Use of Shared Services
The Department’s agencies will work together to move where feasible to the use of shared services across a range of areas covering payroll, financial management systems, taxation, pensions administration, travel, the sharing of a procurement officer, internal audit, information technology, human resources, facilities management, legal services and the provision of board secretarial services. Inter agency working groups are currently examining shared services in the areas of pensions administration and internal audit. Specific proposals will be developed and implemented commencing in 2011.
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Ongoing |
Cost savings will result from reduced duplication and the creation of economies of scale. The ultimate value of the cost savings will depend on level and scale of the shared services. Staff will also be freed up to compensate for staff losses elsewhere within the DCENR family, or to be used to implement any significant additional new functions, or to be redeployed to priority areas across the public service.
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