andMr. P. Barry asked the Minister for Finance the amount of debt of each semi-State body (a) owed to the Irish Government, (b) owed to other lenders, and the rate of interest and date of redemption on each debt owed to the Irish Government; and if the money is being used in all cases for productive purposes.
Written Answers. - Semi-State Body Finances.
156.
The information requested by the Deputies is not readily available and is being collected. I would suggest that the Deputies repeat the question in, say, three weeks' time.
157.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the annual report and accounts of semi-State bodies are presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas sufficiently promptly after the conclusion of the year to which they apply, and who is responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory requirements in this regard.
I am satisfied that, having regard to the time needed to prepare the accounts after the close of the year and to arrange for their audit, there is normally no undue delay in the submission of reports and accounts by semi-State bodies for presentation to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The responsibility in the matter rests with the Minister under whom the body operates.
158.
asked the Minister for Finance if uniform requirements exist as to the format of annual reports of semi-State bodies to provide comparable information as to actual and forecasted revenue, expenditure investments and liabilites.
It is assumed that the Deputy's reference annual reports is to be construed as to annual accounts. In 1968 a including study was undertaken by the Department of Finance on the format of the accounts of State-sponsored bodies with a view to seeing how adequate was the information supplied and how uniform was its presentation. A comparison with the accounts of a number of large private sector companies was also carried out. As a result of this study a memorandum was circulated to the heads of Departments which had responsibility for State-sponsored bodies. This memorandum indicated shortcomings in the accounts of certain State bodies and a number of disparities between the accounts of one body and another together with recommendations directed towards the disclosure of more information than heretofore in the accounts of State bodies generally and the presentation of the accounts in as uniform a manner as possible. Departments were requested to bring these recommendations to the attention of the bodies under their control and to encourage them to implement the recommendations in so far as was feasible in their next yearly accounts.
I am satisfied that, having regard to the wide variety of activities carried on by State bodies, the format of annual reports and accounts is as uniform and as comparable as possible.