Patsy McGlone 14th June 2010

McGlone concern at cost of RPA so far

SDLP Deputy Leader Patsy McGlone MLA has expressed his concern at the cost effectiveness of the Reform of Public Administration (RPA).

Mr McGlone, who is Deputy Chair of the Assembly’s Environment Committee, revealed that £113.5m has been spent on the reform to date after tabling a question to 11 government departments asking them to detail their spending on the process.

The Mid Ulster MLA said: “The Review of Public Administration has been talked about for years and it still hasn’t been fully tidied up due to poor decision-making by Sinn Féin and the DUP.

“There are major concerns about its cost effectiveness because so much public money has been spent but people aren’t convinced that they have seen a lot of savings or that there has been a significant improvement to our health service as a result.

“Meanwhile the Department of Education has spent £8.5m and we still have duplicated layers of administration in our education system as well as the privatised post-primary transfer tests.

“This further underlines the dysfunctionality at the heart of government with Sinn Féin and the DUP putting petty party politics ahead of delivery and service for people.

“Any further delay by these parties will cause extra expenditure to taxpayers and uncertainty for staff in the public sector.”

ENDS