Benchmarking poor value for money, says economist

EVERY ounce of reform and modernisation should be squeezed out of the public service in return for the €1.1 billion yearly benchmarking bill, one of the country’s top economists stressed over the weekend.

Jim O’Leary, who resigned from the Public Service Benchmarking Board (PSBB) in April, said paying the massive bill was the “least worst scenario.”

The Government had no option but to pay it, but they should get major changes in work practices and productivity in return.