Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit (PEDU) reports - joint efficiency review

Department of Education and Department of Finance and Personnel Joint Efficiency Review - PEDU Reports

In 2010 the UK Government reduced the funding available to the NI Executive for 2010-11. In July 2010, the Executive agreed that the Education and Health sectors would be exempt from the in-year adjustments to departments' budgets, on the condition that DFP's Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit (PEDU) would undertake work into the scope for, and delivery of, significant cost reductions across the two sectors.

The terms of reference for the Review of the Education Sector were agreed by the Ministers for Education and Finance and Personnel in November 2010. The review has been taken forward in two stages.

Stage one

Stage one involved the identification of broad areas within the Education sector where there appeared to be scope to make savings. Areas covered were Home to School Transport; School Meals; Education and Library Board Administration; School Cleaning; CCMS Running Costs; Professional Development; Teachers' Pay and Pensions Administration; and ELB Procurement.

The Stage One report was published in March 2011.

DE & DFP Joint Efficiency Review Stage One Report - March 2011

Most of the areas covered in the PEDU Stage One report were also identified as savings areas in the Department's Savings Delivery Plan. Cost reductions are therefore largely already being delivered, as the Department's Arm's Length Bodies are being required to deliver core services within reduced budgets.

Stage two

Stage two considered two of the areas from Stage One in greater depth, with the aim of identifying actions to deliver savings and focused on the areas of home to school transport and school meals.

The reports were published in January 2012 and can be viewed below.

Review of Home to School Transport Final Report - January 2012

Review of School Catering Services Final Report - January 2012

The recommendations made by PEDU in these reports can help inform the Education Authority (EA) in the design and delivery of regional education services.