Progress in improving data collection for the purpose of "value for money" reports on the Civil Service has been disappointing, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Purcell, said yesterday.

In an analysis of 16 "value for money" examinations conducted by the Civil Service in 1994-1996, Mr Purcell identified the inadequacy of data collection to support meaningful performance evaluation as a recurring theme.

He said arrangements for assessing effectiveness in Government departments were underdeveloped, limiting the scope for "value for money" audit activity.

Substantial savings in energy costs in the health sector and in procurement by the Garda have been identified in the reports, however.

Mr Purcell said cost savings in the health boards had been achieved through the substitution of cheaper resources for more expensive resources, without affecting quality. But in the case of staff substitution, as with civilianisation in the Garda, Mr Purcell said cost savings were more complicated.

Mr Purcell added that value analyses of project management issues found weaknesses in each of the key stages of the project life cycle.