Vol. 432 No. 7
50 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment the reason no copies of the accounts of Temple Bar Renewal Ltd. and Temple Bar Properties Ltd., have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as required under the Temple Bar Area Renewal and Development Act, 1991; when it is expected that such accounts will be published; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Temple Bar Properties Ltd. prepared accounts for its first two accounting periods ending on 30 April 1992 and 31 December 1992, respectively, after the expiry of the periods in question and submitted them to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit. I understand that the audit field work has now been carried out and that the audits are nearing completion. The accounts will be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas, and lodged with the Companies Office, as soon as possible after completion of each audit.
As regards Temple Bar Renewal Ltd., I should explain that the company has not engaged staff and has not had any direct financial transactions since its incorporation. A secretarial service for the company has been provided by the Department of the Taoiseach and, since the end of January, by my Department. Incidental expenses of £7,138.78, mainly legal fees, were incurred up to 31 December 1992 in connection with the company's activities; these have been paid out of the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach and the legal fees concerned have been recouped to that Vote by the applicants to whom certificates have been issued by the company under section 4 of the Temple Bar Area Renewal and Development Act, 1991. Similar arrangements are continuing since the transfer to me last January of the functions and duties of the Taoiseach under the Act. Accounts reflecting the above arrangements are in course of preparation and will be presented to both Houses, and lodged with the Companies Office, as soon as possible.
