From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, today Thursday, 19th May, published the Public Service Performance Report 2021 .
This report, now in its sixth year, provides the citizen, with a clear and accessible report on how public funds, totalling over €86bn in 2021, were allocated. The report shows how those funds have been used and outlines the outputs and impacts. It is a key tool for Oireachtas Committees to scrutinise spending and engage in performance dialogue with line Ministers.
This year’s report also includes an update on Equality Budgeting and Green Budgeting, which gives an additional dimension to the impacts of public spending. An update on development of the Well-being Framework is also included.
Performance targets are published in the Revised Estimates Volumes (REV) each year. However, the timing of the publication of the REV means that outturn information for the current year is not yet available and only performance targets can be published.
This report, providing timely quantitative performance data, aims to enhance the focus on performance and delivery by presenting relevant performance indicators in a dedicated and concise document.
Key Highlights
Serving a population of over 5 million, the report shows that in 2021:
2021 also saw An Garda Siochána's overall workforce reach 17,826 (including 14,235 Garda members and 3,168 civilian staff) and the number of primary and post-primary teachers reach 71,584.
It is clear that impacts of the global pandemic continued to dominate public services in 2021. Not only did existing services continue to be impacted, but COVID related services, which were rapidly developed and deployed, remained in place. Testing and contact tracing, and the rollout of the vaccine programme, were vital components in the health systems’ response to COVID-19. The report shows us that by the end of 2021 there was almost 93% uptake of the vaccine programme amongst the eligible population, and 95% of tests results were being communicated within 48 hours.
On publication Minister McGrath said:
‘The Public Sector Performance Report is a key part of the budgetary process that ensures that public funds are used in a targeted and efficient way. It provides clear and focused information on how exactly public funds are being utilised and what impact that public spending has on peoples’ lives. The advancements of Equality, Green and Wellbeing budgeting are very welcome in that regard’.
ENDS