12 hours ago
Ministers will be warned to focus on getting value for money
Ministers are to be given a stern warning to ensure value for money is prioritised in how they spend public funds when they meet on Tuesday morning.
Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers is to bring a memo to Cabinet that sets out the responsibilities of ministers and the requirement for the public sector to show the highest standards of financial judgement.
He will say all ministers must proactively work to ensure the expenditure ceiling of more than €100bn announced as part of Budget 2025 is adhered to, in particular the need to ensure prudent and effective use of public money by the agencies and bodies under the different ministers' remits.
Mr Chambers will be writing to all departments to ensure the information in the memo is brought to the attention of all relevant public servants.
Meanwhile, student accommodation rules are to be relaxed to allow for shared bathrooms, bedrooms, and living spaces in a bid to make it cheaper to build.
Higher education minister James Lawless is to bring a memo on the design guide for State-supported student accommodation to Cabinet, which will allow for higher bed capacity, faster delivery, and procurement savings.
The new model enables greater use of facilities such as twin rooms, communal kitchens, and shared bathrooms, replacing the reliance on individual en-suite units.
Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is bringing forward legislation that will ensure patients receive the same care and standards regardless of the hospital they are treated in.
The Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill 2025 builds on existing patient safety legislation to ensure hospitals operate to minimum core standards. It will also give Hiqa the power to sanction hospitals if standards are not met.
