asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to statements made by the Comptroller and Auditor General in which he states that even with the optimum utilisation of his present staff, it will not be possible to achieve an adequate level of audit examination in all areas of departmental expenditure and review on a continuing basis, and the timely completion of the audits of the accounts of some State-sponsored bodies and departmental funds; and if in view of the major implications of this statement he will outline the proposals he has to deal with this urgent situation.
Written Answers. - Comptroller and Auditor General's Office Staffing.
39.
I am aware that the Comptroller and Auditor General has indicated that the level of staffing in his office is below what he considers adequate for the totally effective discharge of his responsibilities. A request for extra staff by the comptroller was not accepted, however, by the former Department of the Public Service, having particular regard to the fact that the office no longer had responsibility for the audits of An Post and Bord Telecom Éireann. That Department was anxious that the organisation and systems of the office be reviewed to establish whether its capacity could be increased by means other than the creation of additional posts. The comptroller did not agree to this suggestion but I consider that such a review should take place before the provision of additional posts — which all have to be paid for by the taxpayer — is considered.