PAC publishes second periodic report

The report is available on the Oireachtas website here:http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/pac/reports/periodicreportnov-dec2017/PAC-Periodic-Report-9-Nov-to-14-Dec-2017-FINAL.pdf .

The Committee held six public sessions during this period following up on matters arising from previous meetings and examining issues emerging from financial statements audited by and matters reported on by the C&AG.

The report covers meetings held with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, representatives of organisations from the Education and Training Board (ETB) Sector, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Finance.

Among the report’s recommendations are:

Department of Communications

The Committee recommends that the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment improves its project planning and budgeting processes to ensure the timely delivery, within budget, of significant projects such as broadband infrastructure, sustainable energy and landfill remediation.

Education and Training Boards

The Committee recommends that the Department of Education and Skills strengthen its governance and oversight of the ETB sector, including working with the ETBs to ensure that their annual accounts are submitted within the statutory time limit

Department of Education and Skills

The Committee recommends that the Department of Education and Skills urgently concludes the transfer of property from religious organisations to the State through the Redress Scheme.

An Garda Síochána

The Committee recommends that An Garda Síochána promptly present to the Public Accounts Committee and to the Policing Authority the implementation plan for the recommendations of the 2017 Internal Audit Report on financial procedures at the Garda College.

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Committee recommends that all future publications from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection should use the phrase “suspected fraud” instead of “fraud” in instances where the burden of proof has not been met regarding fraud.

Department Of Finance

The Committee recommends that the Department of Finance and the Special Liquidator of the IBRC prepare and publish a timescale and an estimated cost of completing the Special Liquidation process.

The Committee recommends the establishment of a Committee of Inspection for the Special Liquidation of the IBRC.