Vol. 483 No. 3
34 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures, if any, he has taken in order that the comprehensive value for money audits promised in An Action Programme for the Millennium can be undertaken. [19618/97]
The Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1997 widened the role of local government auditors to empower them to examine economy and efficiency in the use of resources and the adequacy of management systems which local authorities have in place to appraise the effectiveness of their own organisations.
A number of measures are necessary before comprehensive value for money audits can be undertaken. My Department is currently undertaking work on the development of modern financial management reporting systems in local authorities.
It is also proposed to carry out a study into the systems of costing the provision of services in local authorities with a view to identifying potential improvements in this area and to facilitate more effective assessment of value for money in local authorities. Tenders received from interested organisations in response to newspaper advertisements are currently being examined in my Department.
While this work is under way, work will continue on the planning and completion of new value for money studies and local government auditors will in the normal course of audit, assess the performance of individual local authorities in implementing the recommendations of the studies already published.
